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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 · pitcher · charge · rush · bass · bowl · march · snap

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. march — music
  6. march — the month
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. charge — a price
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. bass — low music
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. saw — the tool
  17. march — the month
  18. charge — electricity
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bass — the fish
  22. rush — hurry
  23. snap — to click
  24. bass — the instrument

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