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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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. pitch — completely
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. face — to confront
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. bear — the animal
  8. current — electric
  9. bear — the animal
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. pit — in a race
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. face — to point toward
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. deal — to handle
  19. pit — a hole
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. current — of water
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. face — part of the head
  24. current — happening now

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