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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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. pit — a hole
  3. pitch — completely
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. can — a tin
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. bound — tied together
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. can — a tin
  14. pop — soda
  15. pop — music
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. bound — certain
  18. can — to be able to
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. pit — in a race
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. pop — to visit
  24. bound — obliged

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