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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: rock · branch · bass · band · bore · scale · root · hand

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. scale — size or range
  3. root — the cause
  4. bore — to drill
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. root — of a word
  7. root — of a plant
  8. scale — in music
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. band — a music group
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. bore — to tire
  14. branch — a division
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. hand — help
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. band — a ring
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. bass — low music
  22. bass — the fish
  23. hand — in cards
  24. rock — music

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