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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: pitch · rock · ground · fine · suit · leaves · rush · roll

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. rush — hurry
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. ground — the earth
  7. suit — clothes
  8. pitch — completely
  9. roll — a cake
  10. ground — a position
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. roll — a list
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. fine — high quality
  16. ground — crushed
  17. suit — in cards
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. rock — a stone
  22. suit — to fit
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. fine — all right

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