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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: bulb · bear · season · branch · pass · rash · scale · band

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. season — of the year
  3. scale — in music
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. scale — size or range
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. branch — a division
  9. band — a ring
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. rash — a series
  12. bulb — for light
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. bear — the animal
  15. season — in sport
  16. band — a music group
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bear — the animal
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. pass — a permit
  22. rash — hasty
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. branch — of a tree

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