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

Word bank: bass · pass · rash · perch · drill · charge · cabinet · mug

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. bass — the fish
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. mug — a face
  7. charge — in control
  8. pass — a permit
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. drill — army training
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. drill — a practice
  13. mug — a cup
  14. drill — the tool
  15. rash — hasty
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. charge — a price
  20. rash — a series
  21. mug — to rob
  22. perch — the fish
  23. charge — electricity
  24. cabinet — ministers

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