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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. pitch — completely
  3. mug — a face
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. mug — a cup
  6. cue — for pool
  7. rush — hurry
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. deal — to handle
  10. firm — steady
  11. cue — a hint
  12. cue — a signal
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. mug — to rob
  15. firm — a company
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. deal — an agreement

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