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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.

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: foot · pass · staff · rash · drill · key · pitcher · pit

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. pass — a permit
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. drill — army training
  6. rash — hasty
  7. key — for a lock
  8. rash — a series
  9. staff — employees
  10. drill — a practice
  11. drill — the tool
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. key — in music
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. pit — a hole
  19. staff — employees
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. pit — in a race
  22. staff — a stick
  23. key — the most important part
  24. pitcher — a jug

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