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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

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

Word bank: fine · mark · bass · rock · pitch · cabinet · dip · lean

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. rock — music
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. fine — all right
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. bass — low music
  9. fine — high quality
  10. pitch — completely
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. mark — a trace
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. lean — thin
  18. lean — to bend
  19. mark — a grade
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. rock — a stone
  23. dip — to sink
  24. cabinet — ministers

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