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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: jam · plane · bass · track · sharp · deal · pitcher · bowl

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. track — a song
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. track — to keep track
  5. plane — a tool
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. sharp — clever
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. bass — the fish
  19. bass — low music
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. track — a path
  24. deal — to handle

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