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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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Word bank
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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: pass · field · pitch · toast · calf · leaves · pitcher · rush

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. toast — bread
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. field — a subject
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. rush — hurry
  10. field — for sport
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. pass — a permit
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. pitch — completely
  20. field — farmland
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. rush — a thrill

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