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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.

Make a worksheet

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: jam · face · perch · pass · suit · bark · bass · calf

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. bass — the fish
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. face — to confront
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. bark — of a tree
  8. suit — to fit
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. face — to point toward
  13. pass — a permit
  14. face — part of the head
  15. suit — clothes
  16. bark — to shout
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. suit — in cards
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. perch — the fish
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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