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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: cue · rush · mark · lean · coach · bass · scale · firm

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. rush — hurry
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. bass — the fish
  8. scale — in music
  9. cue — a hint
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. scale — size or range
  13. firm — decided
  14. cue — for pool
  15. mark — a grade
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. firm — a company
  18. cue — a signal
  19. mark — a trace
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. bass — low music
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. lean — thin
  24. lean — to bend

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