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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: racket · last · charge · tube · net · rush · plane · pitch

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. charge — in control
  3. last — finally
  4. charge — a price
  5. charge — electricity
  6. plane — a tool
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. rush — hurry
  11. net — in sport
  12. net — after costs
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. last — final
  15. net — for catching
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. tube — a container
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. tube — the underground
  21. last — to go on
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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