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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.

Words on the sheet
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: saw · lie · rash · tube · vault · track · pass · bass

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. track — a path
  3. rash — a series
  4. bass — the fish
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. track — to keep track
  9. saw — the tool
  10. tube — the underground
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. lie — to recline
  14. saw — the tool
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. rash — hasty
  19. bass — low music
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. vault — a safe
  23. tube — a container
  24. pass — a permit

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