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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. firm — decided
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. rest — what's left
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. toast — bread
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. rest — what's left
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. rest — a break
  14. game — a match
  15. roll — a list
  16. firm — steady
  17. game — wild animals
  18. roll — a cake
  19. pitch — completely
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. jam — a tight spot

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