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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 carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. plane — a tool
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. charge — a price
  7. suit — clothes
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. band — a ring
  10. mark — a trace
  11. band — a music group
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. suit — in cards
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. charge — in control
  18. suit — to fit
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. charge — electricity
  22. scale — in music
  23. scale — size or range
  24. mark — a grade

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