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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: file · pitch · can · content · plane · pass · net · fine

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. net — in sport
  4. can — a tin
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. content — the amount
  7. plane — a tool
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. content — happy
  10. fine — high quality
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. file — a line of people
  15. fine — all right
  16. can — a tin
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. net — after costs
  19. pitch — completely
  20. can — to be able to
  21. file — a tool
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. file — a document
  24. net — for catching

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