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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 room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. When are we going to ________________?
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  16. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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. land — to come down
  4. land — ground
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. mark — a grade
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. board — a committee
  10. suit — to fit
  11. rock — music
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. bulb — for light
  14. land — a country
  15. pound — to hit hard
  16. pound — for dogs
  17. mark — a trace
  18. board — to get on
  19. suit — in cards
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. pound — a weight
  22. bulb — for light
  23. suit — clothes
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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