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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. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — of a tree
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. pitch — completely
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. chip — to eat
  7. suit — to fit
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. suit — in cards
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. chip — for betting
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. pass — a permit
  18. suit — clothes
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. bark — to shout
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. racket — a loud noise

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