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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's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. pass — a permit
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. face — part of the head
  7. bank — of a river
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. face — to point toward
  10. stand — to bear
  11. bank — for money
  12. toast — bread
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. face — to confront
  15. pitch — completely
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. chip — to eat
  18. chip — for betting
  19. rash — a series
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. bank — for money
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. rash — hasty

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