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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: snap · racket · firm · mug · track · bass · season · pitch

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. track — to keep track
  4. mug — a face
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. pitch — completely
  7. bass — the fish
  8. track — a path
  9. season — in sport
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. track — a song
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. bass — low music
  14. season — of the year
  15. firm — a company
  16. mug — to rob
  17. snap — to click
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. mug — a cup
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. firm — steady
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. racket — a loud noise

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