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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 120 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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  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. pitch — a sales talk
  2. rock — a stone
  3. drill — a practice
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. shower — to wash
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. pop — music
  9. drill — the tool
  10. drill — army training
  11. pop — soda
  12. rock — music
  13. shower — rain
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bulb — for light
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. pop — to visit
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. pitch — completely
  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