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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. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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. stem — a stem cell
  4. march — the month
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. object — to protest
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. object — a thing
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. march — music
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. fine — all right
  17. object — an aim
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. stem — to come from
  20. march — the month
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. fine — high quality
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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