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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: staff · sharp · bound · bank · can · bass · patient · pass

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. bank — for money
  6. bank — of a river
  7. can — a tin
  8. sharp — clever
  9. bank — for money
  10. bound — obliged
  11. can — a tin
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. can — to be able to
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. bass — the fish
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. staff — employees
  20. bound — tied together
  21. bound — certain
  22. bass — low music
  23. pass — a permit
  24. staff — a stick

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