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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 120 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: trunk · fine · bass · pass · pop · pitcher · rock · pit

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. bass — low music
  3. pass — a permit
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. fine — high quality
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. pit — in a race
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. pit — a hole
  13. pop — to visit
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. fine — all right
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. rock — music
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. rock — a stone
  22. bass — the fish
  23. pop — soda
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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