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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 120 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: can · pass · pop · temple · rush · sharp · bass · racket

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. can — to be able to
  3. bass — the fish
  4. pop — soda
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. pop — music
  8. rush — hurry
  9. can — a tin
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. pass — a permit
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. can — a tin
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. pop — to visit
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. bass — low music
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. sharp — clever

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