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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: bass · mark · pass · chip · court · fine · bound · snap

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. fine — high quality
  4. mark — a grade
  5. bound — tied together
  6. chip — to eat
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. mark — a trace
  10. court — of law
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. fine — all right
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. bound — obliged
  17. snap — to click
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. court — of a king
  20. chip — for betting
  21. bass — the fish
  22. bass — low music
  23. bound — certain
  24. court — for sport

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