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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. mug — a cup
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. bulb — for light
  6. staff — a stick
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. mug — to rob
  9. current — happening now
  10. sharp — clever
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. staff — employees
  15. bulb — for light
  16. mug — a face
  17. bark — to shout
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. current — of water
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. current — electric
  22. staff — employees
  23. pitch — completely
  24. pass — a permit

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