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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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468
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: arm · pass · current · bank · rock · snap · bass · drill

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. bass — the fish
  3. drill — the tool
  4. pass — a permit
  5. bank — of a river
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. current — of water
  8. rock — a stone
  9. drill — a practice
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. snap — to click
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. bass — low music
  18. bank — for money
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. drill — army training
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. bank — for money
  23. rock — music
  24. current — electric

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