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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. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. pitch — completely
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. can — a tin
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. ball — a dance
  8. ball — a great time
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. staff — a stick
  13. can — a tin
  14. staff — employees
  15. rush — hurry
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. date — the fruit
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. staff — employees
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. can — to be able to

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