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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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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: suit · pass · bore · net · hand · pit · mate · bass

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. net — in sport
  3. suit — in cards
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. bass — low music
  6. bore — to drill
  7. pit — a hole
  8. bass — the fish
  9. hand — in cards
  10. bore — to tire
  11. pit — in a race
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. pass — a permit
  14. mate — a friend
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. hand — help
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. net — for catching
  19. suit — clothes
  20. mate — to breed
  21. net — after costs
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. mate — a partner
  24. suit — to fit

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