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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 116 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 ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. can — to be able to
  4. suit — clothes
  5. fine — all right
  6. land — to come down
  7. pitch — completely
  8. can — a tin
  9. land — a country
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. saw — the tool
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. suit — to fit
  14. stand — to bear
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. net — after costs
  18. net — for catching
  19. suit — in cards
  20. can — a tin
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. saw — the tool
  23. fine — high quality
  24. land — ground

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