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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.

Make a worksheet

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: stand · bass · ball · bay · shower · can · rest · lie

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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. ball — a dance
  3. can — a tin
  4. shower — to wash
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. can — to be able to
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. bass — the fish
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. stand — to bear
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. rest — a break
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. bass — low music
  16. shower — rain
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. rest — what's left
  20. ball — a great time
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. rest — what's left
  23. can — a tin
  24. lie — to recline

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