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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 players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. mark — a grade
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. mark — a trace
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. shower — rain
  10. bass — the fish
  11. firm — a company
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. shower — to wash
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. firm — decided
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. wake — a trail
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. firm — steady
  22. pass — a permit
  23. bass — low music
  24. pitch — completely

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