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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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. degree — an amount
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. suit — clothes
  6. degree — from a university
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. charge — in control
  10. craft — boats
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. charge — a price
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. suit — to fit
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. bass — the fish
  17. charge — electricity
  18. degree — temperature
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. foot — a measure
  22. craft — a skill
  23. suit — in cards
  24. bass — low music

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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