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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. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. board — to get on
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. squash — to crush
  7. charge — a price
  8. board — a committee
  9. squash — the sport
  10. suit — in cards
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. bound — tied together
  13. deal — to handle
  14. suit — to fit
  15. can — a tin
  16. suit — clothes
  17. can — to be able to
  18. pitch — completely
  19. charge — electricity
  20. charge — in control
  21. bound — certain
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. bound — obliged
  24. can — a tin

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