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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: pass · pitcher · dip · spell · present · bass · charge · pitch

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. spell — magic
  4. charge — in control
  5. present — the time now
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. present — a gift
  8. spell — letters
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. present — there
  14. dip — to sink
  15. charge — electricity
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. charge — a price
  18. pitch — completely
  19. spell — a short time
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bass — the fish
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. pass — a permit

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