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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: game · arm · charge · pass · foot · bass · ruler · jam

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. charge — a price
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. charge — in control
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. bass — low music
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. charge — electricity
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. bass — the fish
  19. game — a match
  20. game — wild animals
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. foot — a measure

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