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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 116 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: rock · bass · fine · fan · season · bound · stick · band

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. rock — music
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. fine — high quality
  8. bound — certain
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. season — of the year
  11. rock — a stone
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. fine — all right
  14. bass — low music
  15. bass — the fish
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. band — a ring
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. season — in sport
  20. band — a music group
  21. bound — tied together
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. bound — obliged

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