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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: calf · wave · press · trunk · mine · key · bass · suit

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. bass — low music
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. press — a publisher
  6. key — the most important part
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. mine — for digging
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. suit — in cards
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. press — newspapers
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. key — in music
  17. bass — the fish
  18. key — for a lock
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. press — to push
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. suit — to fit
  24. trunk — of a tree

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