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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
468
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: bass · press · jam · temple · pass · net · root · hide

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. net — after costs
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. root — of a word
  6. bass — low music
  7. press — a publisher
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. root — the cause
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. press — to push
  13. bass — the fish
  14. net — in sport
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. pass — a permit
  18. root — of a plant
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. net — for catching
  21. press — newspapers
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. jam — a tight spot

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