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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 116 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: mouse · safe · suit · bass · sharp · rash · track · band

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. suit — to fit
  6. track — a path
  7. track — a song
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. bass — the fish
  10. suit — in cards
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. bass — low music
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. band — a ring
  16. suit — clothes
  17. track — to keep track
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. band — a music group
  22. rash — a series
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rash — hasty

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