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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
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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: pass · land · rash · jam · can · spring · plane · bass

  1. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. can — a tin
  4. rash — hasty
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. bass — low music
  7. plane — a tool
  8. can — to be able to
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. land — to come down
  11. spring — the season
  12. rash — a series
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. pass — a permit
  15. spring — of water
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. spring — a coil
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. can — a tin
  22. bass — the fish
  23. land — ground
  24. bass — the instrument

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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