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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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. press — a publisher
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. press — newspapers
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. rush — hurry
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. press — to push
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. pitch — completely
  17. fall — to drop
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. fall — the season
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. fall — to drop
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. rush — to hurry

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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