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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 116 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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468
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: bulb · pitcher · chair · season · bound · pitch · cabinet · bass

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. bound — tied together
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. bound — certain
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. season — of the year
  10. bulb — for light
  11. chair — a leader
  12. bass — the fish
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bass — low music
  16. chair — to sit on
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bound — obliged
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. pitch — completely

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