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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
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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: saw · trunk · band · pass · deal · bass · stick · rush

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. band — a ring
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. rush — hurry
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. bass — the fish
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. pass — a permit
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. saw — the tool
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. deal — to handle
  19. saw — the tool
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. band — a music group
  24. pass — to succeed

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