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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 room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. firm — decided
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. bank — of a river
  7. bank — for money
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. bank — for money
  10. rash — hasty
  11. mark — a grade
  12. stock — shares
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. rash — a series
  17. stock — goods
  18. rush — hurry
  19. firm — a company
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. mark — a trace
  22. craft — a skill
  23. firm — steady
  24. craft — boats

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