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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. pitch — completely
  4. field — for sport
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. date — the fruit
  7. bank — of a river
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. bank — for money
  11. rock — music
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. can — a tin
  14. field — a subject
  15. bank — for money
  16. can — a tin
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. can — to be able to
  20. rock — a stone
  21. field — farmland
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. foot — a measure
  24. pass — a permit

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