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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: can · squash · arm · rush · bass · jam · pass · safe

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. squash — the sport
  4. rush — hurry
  5. bass — the fish
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. pass — a permit
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. bass — low music
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. can — a tin
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. can — a tin
  20. can — to be able to
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. squash — to crush

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