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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. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. branch — a division
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. game — a match
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rash — a series
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. game — wild animals
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. rash — hasty
  16. pitch — completely
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. snap — to click
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. stand — to bear
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. pitch — a sports field

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