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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. rock — music
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. press — newspapers
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. suit — clothes
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. stand — to bear
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. suit — to fit
  13. pitch — completely
  14. press — to push
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. suit — in cards
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. rock — a stone
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. press — a publisher
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. straw — to clutch at straws
  24. stand — on your feet

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