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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: rush · pass · bass · fan · sharp · cell · pitch · pop

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. He was locked up in a ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. cell — in a prison
  6. pitch — completely
  7. pop — music
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. cell — a phone
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. pass — a permit
  15. cell — in biology
  16. bass — the fish
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. pop — soda
  19. sharp — clever
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. pop — to visit
  22. rush — hurry
  23. bass — low music
  24. fan — to cool the air

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