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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: bass · toast · deal · band · can · pitch · temple · net

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. net — in sport
  4. can — a tin
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. pitch — completely
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. net — after costs
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. bass — low music
  13. net — for catching
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. band — a ring
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. deal — to handle
  18. band — a music group
  19. can — a tin
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. can — to be able to
  23. toast — bread
  24. bass — the fish

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