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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. game — a match
  6. cue — for pool
  7. pass — a permit
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. branch — a division
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. bass — the fish
  12. game — wild animals
  13. lie — to recline
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. cue — a hint
  16. stand — to bear
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. bass — low music
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. cue — a signal
  22. rash — hasty
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. stand — for spectators

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