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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.

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: leaves · nail · key · bass · content · firm · suit · rest

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. bass — low music
  3. key — for a lock
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. key — the most important part
  7. bass — the fish
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. content — the amount
  10. key — in music
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. suit — to fit
  13. firm — steady
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. rest — a break
  17. firm — decided
  18. rest — what's left
  19. firm — a company
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. content — happy
  22. rest — what's left
  23. suit — clothes
  24. suit — in cards

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