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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: hand · roll · bore · craft · leaves · pass · dip · bass

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. roll — a cake
  4. hand — help
  5. pass — a permit
  6. bass — low music
  7. bore — to drill
  8. bore — to tire
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. craft — boats
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. dip — to sink
  14. hand — in cards
  15. bass — the fish
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. craft — a skill
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. pass — to succeed

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