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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. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. mate — to breed
  3. squash — to crush
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. rash — a series
  7. pitch — completely
  8. stock — shares
  9. bound — certain
  10. bound — obliged
  11. rash — hasty
  12. key — the most important part
  13. mug — to rob
  14. bound — tied together
  15. stock — goods
  16. key — in music
  17. mate — a partner
  18. mate — a friend
  19. mug — a face
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. mug — a cup
  23. key — for a lock
  24. squash — the sport

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