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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.

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
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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: lean · track · rest · wound · cue · fine · bass · bear

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. fine — all right
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. lean — to bend
  7. wound — an injury
  8. track — a song
  9. cue — a signal
  10. track — to keep track
  11. bear — the animal
  12. cue — a hint
  13. rest — what's left
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. bass — the fish
  16. rest — what's left
  17. wound — an injury
  18. lean — thin
  19. track — a path
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. fine — high quality
  23. bass — low music
  24. rest — a break

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