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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 · pass · wave · current · saw · mine · pitch · bowl

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. bass — low music
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. saw — the tool
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. pitch — completely
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. current — electric
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. bass — the fish
  15. mine — for digging
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. pass — a permit
  18. current — of water
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. current — happening now
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. saw — the tool

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