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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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  24. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. pitch — completely
  3. race — the arms race
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. court — of a king
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. pop — music
  9. court — of law
  10. pop — to visit
  11. stand — to bear
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. pop — soda
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. court — for sport
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. toast — bread
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. race — a contest
  24. race — humankind

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