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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: rock · file · pass · face · mark · bass · suit · mouse

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. face — to point toward
  3. bass — the fish
  4. face — part of the head
  5. rock — music
  6. suit — to fit
  7. file — a line of people
  8. file — a tool
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. file — a document
  11. mark — a trace
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. pass — a permit
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. mark — a grade
  17. suit — in cards
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. face — to confront
  20. suit — clothes
  21. bass — low music
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. rock — a stone
  24. pass — to succeed

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