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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: rash · cap · scale · bound · calf · bass · saw · leaves

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. cap — of ice
  3. cap — a hat
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. saw — the tool
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. rash — hasty
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. bound — tied together
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. saw — the tool
  13. rash — a series
  14. bound — obliged
  15. bound — certain
  16. scale — in music
  17. scale — size or range
  18. bass — the fish
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. cap — a lid
  21. bass — low music
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. calf — a young animal

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