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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: fine · safe · roll · band · rash · pass · clip · rock

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. rash — hasty
  3. pass — a permit
  4. clip — for paper
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. clip — a video
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. fine — all right
  12. band — a ring
  13. rock — a stone
  14. fine — high quality
  15. clip — to cut
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. band — a music group
  18. rock — music
  19. roll — a list
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. roll — a cake
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. safe — a strongbox

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