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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: pop · lash · game · pitch · temple · bass · mug · bound

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. bound — tied together
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. pitch — completely
  6. mug — to rob
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. game — wild animals
  9. pop — soda
  10. mug — a face
  11. pop — music
  12. bass — the fish
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. pop — to visit
  17. game — a match
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. mug — a cup
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bass — low music
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. temple — side of the head

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