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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 116 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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. rest — what's left
  4. object — to protest
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. bank — for money
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. field — for sport
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. rest — what's left
  12. bank — of a river
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. object — an aim
  16. field — farmland
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. bank — for money
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. rush — hurry
  22. field — a subject
  23. object — a thing
  24. rest — a break

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