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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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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  11. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  12. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. scale — size or range
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. branch — a division
  8. scale — in music
  9. bass — the fish
  10. pound — a weight
  11. pound — to hit hard
  12. pound — for dogs
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. bass — low music
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. racket — a loud noise

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