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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 hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. pit — in a race
  3. charge — a price
  4. rush — hurry
  5. charge — in control
  6. charge — electricity
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. mug — a cup
  9. date — the fruit
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. pit — a hole
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. mug — to rob
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. pitch — completely
  23. mug — a face
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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