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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: deal · pass · band · key · suit · pitcher · hide · shower

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. deal — to handle
  5. band — a music group
  6. key — in music
  7. suit — clothes
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. shower — to wash
  11. suit — in cards
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. key — the most important part
  17. key — for a lock
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. suit — to fit
  22. shower — rain
  23. band — a ring
  24. pitcher — a jug

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