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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
468
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: hide · pitch · bore · swing · lash · deal · pop · bass

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. bore — to tire
  3. deal — to handle
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. swing — in golf
  10. bass — the fish
  11. pitch — completely
  12. bore — to drill
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. bass — low music
  15. pop — to visit
  16. swing — music
  17. pop — music
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. pop — soda
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. swing — to play on

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