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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. lean — thin
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. lean — to bend
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. pitch — completely
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. deal — to handle
  19. ground — the earth
  20. ground — a position
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. ground — crushed
  24. bowl — a dish

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