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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.

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: date · mouse · club · saw · bass · rock · lean · toast

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. rock — a stone
  3. club — for dancing
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. club — a group
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. saw — the tool
  10. bass — the fish
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. lean — to bend
  13. lean — thin
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. date — the fruit
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bass — low music
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. toast — bread
  21. rock — music
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. club — for golf

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