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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: arm · mark · calf · current · pitch · wake · rush · bass

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. current — electric
  4. current — of water
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. mark — a grade
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. pitch — completely
  12. mark — a trace
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. rush — hurry
  16. wake — a trail
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. bass — low music
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. bass — the fish
  24. current — happening now

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