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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. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. pit — in a race
  3. rest — what's left
  4. mark — a grade
  5. ball — a great time
  6. mark — a trace
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. rest — a break
  9. pop — to visit
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. plane — a tool
  13. ball — a dance
  14. rest — what's left
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. pitch — completely
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. pit — a hole
  20. pop — soda
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. pop — music
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. toast — bread

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