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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 124 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: cabinet · bass · toast · bay · chip · bat · stand · jam

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. chip — to eat
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. stand — to bear
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. bass — low music
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. bass — the fish
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. bat — for baseball
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. bat — the animal
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. toast — bread
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bat — in an idiom
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. chip — for betting
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. bay — a horse colour

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