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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 ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. key — in music
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. key — the most important part
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. pit — in a race
  9. stand — to bear
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. pitch — completely
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. key — for a lock
  23. pit — a hole
  24. fan — a supporter

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