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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: present · bore · leaves · staff · pass · lean · bass · safe

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. bass — low music
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. bore — to tire
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. staff — employees
  11. staff — a stick
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. present — there
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. present — a gift
  17. pass — a permit
  18. present — the time now
  19. lean — thin
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. bass — the fish
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. lean — to bend
  24. bore — to drill

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