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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 players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. pitch — completely
  4. rash — a series
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. pit — in a race
  8. face — to confront
  9. rash — hasty
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. hand — in cards
  12. rush — hurry
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. pit — a hole
  15. face — part of the head
  16. face — to point toward
  17. can — a tin
  18. can — to be able to
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. foot — a measure
  21. can — a tin
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. hand — help

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