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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. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. rash — hasty
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. bulb — for light
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. pitch — completely
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bulb — for light
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. pop — to visit
  14. stand — to bear
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. pop — music
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. rash — a series
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. rash — on the skin

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