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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 116 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
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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: can · bay · leaves · bass · rest · net · season · pitch

  1. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. bass — low music
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. can — to be able to
  5. net — in sport
  6. season — in sport
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. pitch — completely
  9. rest — what's left
  10. season — of the year
  11. net — for catching
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. can — a tin
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. net — after costs
  16. bass — the fish
  17. rest — what's left
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. can — a tin
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. rest — a break
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. leaves — lets stay

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