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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.

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Word bank
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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. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. bulb — for light
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. tube — the underground
  5. tube — a container
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. ball — a dance
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. key — in music
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. bulb — for light
  15. key — for a lock
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. pass — a permit
  19. craft — boats
  20. craft — a skill
  21. ball — a great time
  22. bass — low music
  23. key — the most important part
  24. tube — in a tire

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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