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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: file · rush · bass · pass · pound · last · stand · plane

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  17. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. stand — to bear
  4. file — a document
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. plane — a tool
  7. pass — a permit
  8. file — a tool
  9. bass — the fish
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. bass — low music
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. file — a line of people
  16. pound — a weight
  17. pound — for dogs
  18. last — to go on
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. last — finally
  21. rush — hurry
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. last — final

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