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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
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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: content · object · deal · pitch · pass · pop · jam · lean

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  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. jam — in traffic
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. pop — to visit
  4. pop — soda
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. content — happy
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. pass — a permit
  11. lean — to bend
  12. pop — music
  13. object — to protest
  14. deal — to handle
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. content — the amount
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. lean — thin
  20. object — an aim
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. object — a thing
  23. deal — a big deal
  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