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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: safe · suit · rush · plane · bass · pitch · temple · season

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. season — of the year
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. bass — the fish
  7. suit — to fit
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. pitch — completely
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. season — in sport
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. bass — low music
  16. suit — in cards
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. plane — a tool
  23. rush — hurry
  24. temple — a place of worship

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