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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: current · trunk · pass · temple · rash · bass · rest · degree

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. degree — from a university
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. degree — temperature
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. bass — the fish
  7. pass — a permit
  8. bass — low music
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. rest — what's left
  11. current — electric
  12. current — of water
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. rest — a break
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. rash — hasty
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. current — happening now
  21. rest — what's left
  22. degree — an amount
  23. rash — a series
  24. temple — a place of worship

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