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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: rash · suit · branch · scale · can · bay · straw · mug

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  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. bay — a part of the sea
  2. scale — in music
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. mug — a cup
  5. suit — to fit
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. can — a tin
  9. rash — a series
  10. scale — size or range
  11. can — to be able to
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. can — a tin
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. mug — to rob
  16. rash — hasty
  17. branch — a division
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. suit — clothes
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. straw — dry grass
  23. mug — a face
  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