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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: rush · lie · mug · key · march · pitch · leaves · trunk

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. pitch — completely
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. mug — a face
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. mug — to rob
  10. rush — hurry
  11. march — the month
  12. key — the most important part
  13. key — in music
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. march — music
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. mug — a cup
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. key — for a lock
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. march — the month
  24. lie — to recline

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