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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: dip · charge · object · pitch · bass · safe · wound · can

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. bass — low music
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — a tin
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. wound — an injury
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. object — a thing
  10. object — an aim
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. dip — to sink
  13. charge — a price
  14. charge — in control
  15. pitch — completely
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. can — to be able to
  18. object — to protest
  19. charge — electricity
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bass — the fish
  22. wound — an injury
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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