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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: tube · pass · rock · ball · bound · cap · file · season

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. bound — tied together
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. file — a line of people
  5. season — of the year
  6. rock — music
  7. file — a tool
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. cap — of ice
  11. bound — obliged
  12. season — in sport
  13. ball — a great time
  14. file — a document
  15. bound — certain
  16. cap — a lid
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. cap — a hat
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. tube — a container
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. pass — a permit
  23. rock — a stone
  24. tube — the underground

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