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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: pop · net · bass · last · pound · temple · rock · bowl

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. pop — music
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. bass — low music
  6. net — in sport
  7. pop — to visit
  8. pound — a weight
  9. net — for catching
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. last — to go on
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. last — finally
  17. rock — music
  18. pop — soda
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. bass — the fish
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. last — final
  24. pound — for dogs

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