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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: roll · current · mouse · pitcher · ball · track · bass · pitch

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. ball — a great time
  3. roll — a cake
  4. pitch — completely
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. track — to keep track
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. bass — low music
  10. ball — a dance
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. track — a song
  13. current — electric
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. current — happening now
  16. roll — a list
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. current — of water
  22. bass — the fish
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. roll — on a roll

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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