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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
468
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: roll · stick · calf · pass · mate · bass · coach · object

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. roll — a cake
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. bass — the fish
  7. mate — a partner
  8. object — an aim
  9. bass — low music
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. roll — a list
  14. object — to protest
  15. mate — to breed
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. mate — a friend
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. object — a thing
  23. pass — a permit
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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