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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: scale · press · pass · bark · lash · bound · pop · rush

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  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. scale — for weighing
  2. bark — to shout
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. press — to push
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. pop — soda
  8. press — newspapers
  9. scale — in music
  10. scale — size or range
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. bound — tied together
  14. rush — hurry
  15. pop — music
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. pop — to visit
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. bound — obliged
  21. press — a publisher
  22. pass — a permit
  23. bound — certain
  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