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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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. mark — a trace
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. can — to be able to
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. sharp — clever
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. roll — a list
  14. can — a tin
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. face — to point toward
  17. mark — a grade
  18. face — to confront
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. can — a tin
  21. roll — a cake
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. face — part of the head

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