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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. pitch — completely
  3. bear — the animal
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. bound — tied together
  7. wax — to grow
  8. bound — obliged
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. mug — a face
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. squash — to crush
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. bear — the animal
  17. mug — a cup
  18. pit — a hole
  19. toast — bread
  20. squash — the sport
  21. mug — to rob
  22. bound — certain
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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