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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. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. bulb — for light
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. spell — letters
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. can — a tin
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. pass — a permit
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. stand — to bear
  14. spell — a short time
  15. can — to be able to
  16. can — a tin
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. sharp — clever
  19. pitch — completely
  20. spell — magic
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. bulb — for light
  24. branch — a division

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