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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 ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. court — of law
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. rock — a stone
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. mug — a cup
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. pit — a hole
  12. mug — to rob
  13. court — of a king
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. pit — in a race
  16. court — for sport
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. can — a tin
  20. mug — a face
  21. pitch — completely
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. stand — to bear
  24. rock — music

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