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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 120 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: cue · bank · nail · bass · staff · rush · pop · deal

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. bass — low music
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. bank — for money
  6. deal — to handle
  7. cue — a hint
  8. pop — music
  9. rush — hurry
  10. pop — to visit
  11. staff — a stick
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. cue — for pool
  14. bank — of a river
  15. pop — soda
  16. bass — the fish
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. staff — employees
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. bank — for money
  24. cue — a signal

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