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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. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. press — newspapers
  4. toast — bread
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. lean — thin
  9. spell — magic
  10. press — to push
  11. rock — a stone
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. press — a publisher
  15. rock — music
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. spell — letters
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. spell — a short time
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. pitch — completely
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. lean — to bend

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