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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. drill — army training
  3. mug — a cup
  4. fine — high quality
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. last — final
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. pitch — completely
  10. mug — to rob
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. last — to go on
  13. drill — a practice
  14. mug — a face
  15. toast — bread
  16. last — finally
  17. pass — a permit
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. drill — the tool
  22. fine — all right
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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