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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: key · current · pass · bass · can · kid · bay · bound

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  16. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. bound — tied together
  3. can — to be able to
  4. key — in music
  5. current — electric
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. current — happening now
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. key — the most important part
  10. kid — child
  11. pass — a permit
  12. current — of water
  13. bound — certain
  14. can — a tin
  15. kid — to tease
  16. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  17. key — for a lock
  18. bass — the fish
  19. bound — obliged
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. bass — low music
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. can — a tin

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