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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. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. season — of the year
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. plane — a tool
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. bass — the fish
  11. bass — low music
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. net — after costs
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. net — in sport
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. net — for catching
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. season — in sport
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. racket — for tennis

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