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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: tube · lash · pass · jam · suit · board · bass · pitch

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. board — a committee
  3. pass — a permit
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. suit — clothes
  11. bass — low music
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. suit — to fit
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. pitch — completely
  17. bass — the fish
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. board — to get on
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. tube — the underground
  23. suit — in cards
  24. pitch — a sports field

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