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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. foot — a measure
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. staff — employees
  7. stock — shares
  8. pit — a hole
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. suit — to fit
  14. staff — employees
  15. pit — in a race
  16. pitch — completely
  17. suit — clothes
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. staff — a stick
  22. suit — in cards
  23. stock — goods
  24. bowl — to roll

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