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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: pass · fine · stick · pitch · racket · wound · hand · current

  1. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. hand — in cards
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. current — of water
  8. pass — a permit
  9. pitch — completely
  10. hand — help
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. current — happening now
  17. wound — an injury
  18. current — electric
  19. wound — an injury
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. fine — high quality
  24. fine — all right

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