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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: saw · pass · mug · rock · bear · pitch · bass · track

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. saw — the tool
  4. mug — to rob
  5. bear — the animal
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. pass — a permit
  8. mug — a face
  9. bass — the fish
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. track — to keep track
  17. bear — the animal
  18. track — a song
  19. rock — a stone
  20. bass — low music
  21. mug — a cup
  22. rock — music
  23. track — a path
  24. pitch — completely

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