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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: rest · nail · board · row · pass · bass · pitch · suit

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  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. board — a committee
  2. suit — clothes
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. bass — the fish
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. suit — in cards
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. rest — a break
  12. row — to paddle
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. board — to get on
  16. rest — what's left
  17. pitch — completely
  18. row — a line
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. pass — a permit
  21. suit — to fit
  22. rest — what's left
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  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