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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.

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: cue · roll · band · fall · bass · nail · rock · bear

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. band — a ring
  4. bear — the animal
  5. roll — a list
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. fall — to drop
  8. rock — a stone
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bass — the fish
  11. fall — the season
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. cue — a signal
  14. rock — music
  15. fall — to drop
  16. cue — a hint
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. cue — for pool
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. bear — the animal
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. bass — low music
  24. band — a music group

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