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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. pitch — completely
  5. cue — a hint
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. rush — hurry
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. lie — to recline
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. cue — for pool
  14. cue — a signal
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. pit — a hole
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. perch — the fish
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. rush — a thrill

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