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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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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 · staff · club · board · prune · calf · tube · pass

  1. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. club — for golf
  4. club — for dancing
  5. prune — to trim
  6. pass — a permit
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. prune — to trim
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. board — a committee
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. tube — a container
  16. bass — low music
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. staff — employees
  19. staff — employees
  20. bass — the fish
  21. board — to get on
  22. staff — a stick
  23. tube — the underground
  24. tube — in a tire

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