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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: pitcher · ball · bass · pass · mug · bound · foot · content

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  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. content — videos and posts
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. bound — tied together
  5. mug — a cup
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. mug — a face
  8. mug — to rob
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. bound — certain
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. bass — the fish
  14. foot — a measure
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. content — happy
  17. ball — a dance
  18. bound — obliged
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. ball — a great time
  21. content — the amount
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pass — a permit
  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