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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: saw · rock · wave · trunk · mark · bass · spring · mug

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. mark — a trace
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rock — music
  9. bass — the fish
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. mug — a cup
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. mug — to rob
  16. spring — the season
  17. spring — of water
  18. saw — the tool
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bass — low music
  22. mark — a grade
  23. mug — a face
  24. mark — to pay attention

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com