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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. suit — to fit
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. mate — a partner
  5. pit — a hole
  6. suit — in cards
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. mate — to breed
  13. pitch — completely
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. rock — music
  16. rock — a stone
  17. mate — a friend
  18. kick — in football
  19. stand — to bear
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. suit — clothes
  24. rock — to move gently

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