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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.

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: pass · perch · staff · spring · suit · bass · rush · scale

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. pass — a permit
  4. spring — a coil
  5. perch — the fish
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. staff — employees
  8. rush — hurry
  9. bass — low music
  10. scale — size or range
  11. scale — in music
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. suit — clothes
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. spring — of water
  16. bass — the fish
  17. suit — in cards
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. spring — the season
  21. suit — to fit
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. staff — a stick

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