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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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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: bear · pitch · face · stand · rock · rash · bass · track

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. face — to point toward
  3. rash — a series
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. rock — music
  6. track — a path
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. bear — the animal
  9. pitch — completely
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. stand — to bear
  12. face — part of the head
  13. track — a song
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. bass — low music
  17. track — to keep track
  18. bass — the fish
  19. bear — the animal
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. rock — a stone
  23. rash — hasty
  24. face — to confront

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