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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: bound · bass · rest · calf · pass · season · scale · temple

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. season — of the year
  6. bound — certain
  7. pass — a permit
  8. scale — size or range
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. rest — a break
  12. scale — in music
  13. bound — obliged
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. rest — what's left
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. season — in sport
  20. rest — what's left
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. bass — the fish
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. temple — a place of worship

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