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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 116 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: bulb · branch · pass · plane · track · ruler · ball · bass

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. track — to keep track
  9. bass — the fish
  10. pass — a permit
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. plane — a tool
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. track — a path
  15. ball — a great time
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. branch — a division
  19. bulb — for light
  20. track — a song
  21. bass — low music
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. ball — a dance
  24. ruler — for measuring

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