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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. drill — the tool
  4. drill — army training
  5. bass — low music
  6. drill — a practice
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. can — a tin
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. wake — a trail
  14. band — a ring
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. can — to be able to
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. can — a tin
  19. band — a music group
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. dip — to sink
  24. bass — the fish

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