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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: board · bat · pass · pitcher · rash · cue · pop · bass

  1. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. pop — soda
  3. rash — a series
  4. bass — the fish
  5. pop — to visit
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. bat — the animal
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. cue — for pool
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. cue — a hint
  12. board — a committee
  13. bat — for baseball
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. pass — a permit
  18. board — to get on
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. bass — low music
  21. cue — a signal
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. rash — hasty
  24. pop — 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