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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. bass — low music
  3. can — a tin
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. bank — of a river
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. can — a tin
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. pass — a permit
  14. season — of the year
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. bass — the fish
  18. can — to be able to
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. bank — for money
  21. bank — for money
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. season — in sport
  24. bowl — to roll

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