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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · season · staff · can · track · scale · shower · jam

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. staff — employees
  5. season — in sport
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. scale — in music
  10. scale — size or range
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. staff — employees
  13. can — to be able to
  14. bass — low music
  15. track — a path
  16. staff — a stick
  17. shower — to wash
  18. season — of the year
  19. bass — the fish
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. shower — rain
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. track — a song

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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