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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: plane · roll · bass · mouse · rock · bore · season · straw

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. rock — a stone
  4. season — in sport
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. roll — a list
  9. season — of the year
  10. plane — a tool
  11. bore — to tire
  12. straw — to clutch at straws
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. rock — music
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. bore — to drill
  23. bass — low music
  24. roll — a cake

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