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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 120 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: lash · season · rush · bowl · bass · pitch · safe · rock

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. season — of the year
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. bass — low music
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. pitch — completely
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. rock — a stone
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bass — the fish
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. rock — music
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. season — in sport

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