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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 · safe · pass · bear · can · racket · kid · toast

  1. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. bass — low music
  3. pass — a permit
  4. bear — the animal
  5. can — a tin
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. kid — child
  9. kid — to tease
  10. toast — bread
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. bass — the fish
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bear — the animal
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. can — to be able to
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. can — a tin
  19. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. pass — to spend time

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