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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: bound · pass · key · drill · last · bass · wave · craft

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. bound — tied together
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. bound — obliged
  5. drill — a practice
  6. craft — a skill
  7. pass — a permit
  8. bass — the fish
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. drill — army training
  11. key — the most important part
  12. last — to go on
  13. last — final
  14. drill — the tool
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. craft — boats
  17. last — finally
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. bass — low music
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. bound — certain
  23. key — in music
  24. craft — a handicraft

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