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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: date · rush · safe · wax · bulb · bass · trunk · pass

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. bulb — for light
  4. date — the fruit
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. bass — low music
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bass — the fish
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. wax — to grow
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. bulb — for light
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. pass — a permit
  23. rush — hurry
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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