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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: bay · mouse · lean · board · current · bass · track · dip

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. track — a path
  3. current — of water
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. lean — to bend
  9. board — a committee
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. track — to keep track
  13. dip — to sink
  14. bass — low music
  15. lean — thin
  16. track — a song
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. current — electric
  22. bass — the fish
  23. board — to get on
  24. current — happening now

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