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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 120 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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: pop · bay · bound · stand · calf · pitch · firm · sharp

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. firm — steady
  4. firm — a company
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. firm — decided
  7. bound — obliged
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. sharp — clever
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. pop — to visit
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. pop — soda
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. bound — certain
  17. bound — tied together
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. pop — music
  20. stand — to bear
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. pitch — completely

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