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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: bass · hide · racket · rash · wake · pass · march · suit

  1. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. rash — a series
  3. pass — a permit
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. rash — hasty
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. bass — low music
  9. bass — the fish
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. wake — a trail
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. suit — to fit
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. suit — in cards
  17. march — music
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. march — the month
  21. suit — clothes
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. march — the month

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