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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.

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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: bass · mug · drill · rash · rock · stock · stem · pitch

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. pitch — completely
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. rock — a stone
  5. mug — to rob
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. rock — music
  8. drill — a practice
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. stem — to come from
  12. mug — a face
  13. rash — hasty
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. stock — shares
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. mug — a cup
  19. stock — goods
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. drill — army training
  22. bass — the fish
  23. drill — the tool
  24. rash — a series

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