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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 · jam · firm · bass · scale · pass · mark · prune

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. mark — a trace
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. prune — to trim
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. scale — in music
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. bass — low music
  10. fine — all right
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. firm — a company
  13. scale — size or range
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. bass — the fish
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. mark — a grade
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. prune — to trim
  20. fine — high quality
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. firm — decided
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. firm — steady

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