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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  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. net — in sport
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. mark — a grade
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. net — after costs
  10. board — to get on
  11. pit — a hole
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. pitch — completely
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. fork — in a road
  17. board — a committee
  18. pit — in a race
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. net — for catching
  22. mark — a trace
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  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