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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: deal · band · rock · fall · temple · can · pass · fine

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. rock — music
  3. can — a tin
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. fine — high quality
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. pass — a permit
  9. can — a tin
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. rock — a stone
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. fine — all right
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. deal — to handle
  17. fall — to drop
  18. can — to be able to
  19. fall — to drop
  20. band — a music group
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. band — a ring

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