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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: pitch · plane · current · bowl · bound · bass · leaves · bark

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. current — happening now
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. bound — certain
  6. pitch — completely
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. bound — tied together
  10. bass — the fish
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. bark — to shout
  15. current — of water
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. current — electric
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. bound — obliged
  20. bass — low music
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. plane — a tool
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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