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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 120 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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. bore — to tire
  3. court — of law
  4. court — for sport
  5. court — of a king
  6. pop — music
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. prune — to trim
  13. pop — to visit
  14. staff — employees
  15. pop — soda
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bore — to drill
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. staff — a stick
  21. staff — employees
  22. prune — to trim
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. safe — out of danger

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