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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: pit · kid · bass · can · pitcher · fine · lie · ball

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  19. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. ball — a great time
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. bass — low music
  7. can — to be able to
  8. bass — the fish
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. kid — to tease
  12. lie — to recline
  13. pit — a hole
  14. ball — a dance
  15. fine — all right
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. kid — child
  19. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  20. fine — high quality
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. can — a tin
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. can — a tin

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