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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 players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. charge — in control
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pop — music
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. pitch — completely
  9. staff — a stick
  10. staff — employees
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. pop — to visit
  13. charge — electricity
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. can — a tin
  16. pop — soda
  17. staff — employees
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. stand — to bear
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. can — a tin
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. can — to be able to
  24. charge — a price

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