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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: field · pitch · racket · bass · dip · bay · calf · stock

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. dip — to sink
  5. field — for sport
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. pitch — completely
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. bass — low music
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. field — farmland
  16. stock — shares
  17. field — a subject
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. stock — goods
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. bass — the fish

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