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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: lean · rush · rock · mate · pit · suit · bass · pitcher

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. bass — the fish
  3. mate — a partner
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. lean — to bend
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. rush — hurry
  10. lean — thin
  11. suit — in cards
  12. rock — music
  13. mate — to breed
  14. pit — in a race
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. mate — a friend
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. suit — to fit
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. pit — a hole
  21. bass — low music
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. rock — a stone
  24. pitcher — a jug

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