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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: can · bass · suit · net · bay · file · drill · trunk

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. suit — to fit
  5. file — a line of people
  6. can — a tin
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. drill — the tool
  9. bass — low music
  10. suit — in cards
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. net — for catching
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. can — a tin
  15. drill — army training
  16. net — in sport
  17. file — a tool
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. net — after costs
  20. bass — the fish
  21. drill — a practice
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. suit — clothes
  24. file — a document

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