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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 players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. season — in sport
  3. saw — the tool
  4. saw — the tool
  5. current — happening now
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. pit — in a race
  8. rash — a series
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. pitch — completely
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. season — of the year
  14. rash — hasty
  15. bulb — for light
  16. rock — music
  17. pit — a hole
  18. current — electric
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. bulb — for light
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. rock — a stone
  23. current — of water
  24. rash — on the skin

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