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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. pitch — completely
  3. suit — clothes
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. suit — in cards
  6. spring — of water
  7. row — a line
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. row — to paddle
  10. pass — a permit
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. track — a path
  13. suit — to fit
  14. prune — to trim
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. spring — the season
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. prune — to trim
  19. track — a song
  20. mark — a trace
  21. track — to keep track
  22. spring — a coil
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. row — a quarrel

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