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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: pitch · leaves · current · jam · suit · ball · lash · bass

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. current — electric
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. current — of water
  6. pitch — completely
  7. suit — clothes
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. ball — a great time
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. current — happening now
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. suit — in cards
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. bass — the fish
  23. suit — to fit
  24. bass — low music

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