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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. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. game — a match
  4. stand — to bear
  5. club — for dancing
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. rock — music
  8. can — a tin
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. can — a tin
  11. game — wild animals
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. can — to be able to
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. club — a group
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. rock — a stone
  20. club — for golf
  21. lie — to recline
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. pitch — completely

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