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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: bass · stand · fine · lash · pound · tube · safe · key

  1. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. key — for a lock
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. bass — the fish
  5. pound — a weight
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. key — the most important part
  8. stand — to bear
  9. fine — all right
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. tube — a container
  12. fine — high quality
  13. key — in music
  14. bass — low music
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. tube — the underground
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. lash — to lash out

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