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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. ground — the earth
  3. march — the month
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. march — the month
  7. pass — a permit
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. pit — in a race
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. march — music
  13. bass — the fish
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. ground — a position
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. pit — a hole
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. ground — crushed
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. bass — the instrument

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