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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. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. club — for golf
  3. mug — a cup
  4. mine — for digging
  5. mug — to rob
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. rock — music
  8. pitch — completely
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. march — music
  11. club — a group
  12. mug — a face
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. rock — a stone
  15. mate — to breed
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. club — for dancing
  18. mate — a friend
  19. march — the month
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. mate — a partner
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. pitch — a sports field

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