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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 room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. bulb — for light
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. charge — a price
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. row — to paddle
  12. stand — to bear
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. rush — hurry
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. row — a line
  17. bulb — for light
  18. charge — in control
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. bear — the animal
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. charge — electricity
  24. bear — the animal

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