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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: bark · bass · saw · pitch · key · suit · board · perch

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. bass — low music
  3. suit — clothes
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. board — a committee
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. perch — the fish
  9. suit — in cards
  10. bass — the fish
  11. board — to get on
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. pitch — completely
  14. saw — the tool
  15. key — in music
  16. key — the most important part
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. key — for a lock
  19. bark — to shout
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. suit — to fit

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