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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: bowl · pass · rush · bear · leaves · pound · band · straw

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. pound — a weight
  4. band — a ring
  5. rush — hurry
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. band — a music group
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. straw — a straw man
  14. bear — the animal
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. straw — to clutch at straws
  18. bear — the animal
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. leaves — lets stay

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