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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: temple · pass · bass · track · can · bat · press · bound

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  18. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bat — the animal
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. track — to keep track
  6. can — to be able to
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. bound — certain
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. track — a song
  13. bass — the fish
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. press — to push
  16. press — a publisher
  17. bat — in an idiom
  18. bat — for baseball
  19. track — a path
  20. bound — tied together
  21. pass — a permit
  22. bound — obliged
  23. can — a tin
  24. bass — low music

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