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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. pitch — completely
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. stock — shares
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. pit — in a race
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. rest — what's left
  11. wake — a trail
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. rest — what's left
  15. pit — a hole
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. rest — a break
  18. stock — goods
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. lie — to recline
  21. pass — a permit
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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