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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 room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. land — a country
  3. saw — the tool
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. pass — a permit
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. saw — the tool
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. toast — bread
  13. land — to come down
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. fork — to eat with
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. land — ground
  23. fork — in a road
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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