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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. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. wake — a trail
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. pass — a permit
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. fall — the season
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. fall — to drop
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. mark — a trace
  16. mark — a grade
  17. fall — to drop
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. mug — a cup
  21. mug — to rob
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. mug — a face

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