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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. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — a break
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. rest — what's left
  5. mark — a grade
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. rest — what's left
  8. march — the month
  9. pitch — completely
  10. roll — a list
  11. march — the month
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. march — music
  14. roll — a cake
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. mark — a trace
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. object — to protest
  19. cap — of ice
  20. object — an aim
  21. cap — a lid
  22. object — a thing
  23. cap — a hat
  24. mark — to pay attention

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