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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: jam · stick · lash · foot · bass · spell · pass · rest

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. foot — a measure
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. spell — magic
  6. bass — low music
  7. rest — what's left
  8. bass — the fish
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. spell — letters
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. spell — a short time
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. pass — a permit
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. rest — a break

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