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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 120 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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468
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: arm · staff · coach · can · saw · ball · bass · pass

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. saw — the tool
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. can — to be able to
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. bass — low music
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. can — a tin
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. ball — a great time
  15. pass — a permit
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. saw — the tool
  18. staff — employees
  19. staff — a stick
  20. bass — the fish
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. ball — a dance
  23. staff — employees
  24. ball — a round shape

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