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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: bank · staff · toast · roll · nail · bass · face · season

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. bank — of a river
  3. season — of the year
  4. staff — a stick
  5. bass — the fish
  6. face — to point toward
  7. season — in sport
  8. staff — employees
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. face — part of the head
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. roll — a cake
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. face — to confront
  18. roll — a list
  19. bank — for money
  20. staff — employees
  21. toast — bread
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. bank — for money

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