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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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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: arm · pass · bass · band · jam · ruler · bear · wound

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bass — the fish
  4. band — a music group
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. pass — a permit
  8. wound — an injury
  9. bass — low music
  10. wound — an injury
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. bear — the animal
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. band — a ring
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. arm — part of the body

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