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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 120 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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. foot — a measure
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. club — for golf
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. pitch — completely
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. club — for dancing
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rush — hurry
  23. club — a group
  24. foot — the bottom

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