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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: pass · stock · race · dip · last · pitcher · fan · bass

  1. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. race — a contest
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. pass — a permit
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. stock — shares
  10. bass — the fish
  11. race — humankind
  12. dip — to sink
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. bass — low music
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. stock — goods
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. last — final
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. last — finally
  24. last — to go on

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