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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: hide · pit · key · pitch · branch · chip · mug · rock

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. mug — a cup
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. key — for a lock
  10. rock — a stone
  11. chip — to eat
  12. rock — music
  13. chip — for betting
  14. pit — in a race
  15. mug — a face
  16. key — in music
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. mug — to rob
  21. key — the most important part
  22. pit — a hole
  23. pitch — completely
  24. hide — to keep secret

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