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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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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: pass · nail · safe · lie · fan · bass

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. lie — to recline
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. pass — a permit
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. bass — low music

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