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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.

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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. can — to be able to
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. can — a tin
  9. bass — low music
  10. fall — to drop
  11. scale — size or range
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. bass — the fish
  14. scale — in music
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. fall — the season
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. can — a tin
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. bear — the animal
  23. fall — to drop
  24. pass — to succeed

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