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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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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. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. tear — from crying
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. clip — to cut
  5. key — the most important part
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. key — in music
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. clip — for paper
  11. charge — a price
  12. clip — a video
  13. charge — electricity
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. pass — a permit
  16. tear — from crying
  17. pitch — completely
  18. charge — in control
  19. key — for a lock
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. tear — to rip
  23. foot — a measure
  24. pass — to succeed

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