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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 116 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: mate · pitch · fine · mug · stem · current · leaves · present

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. current — happening now
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. present — the time now
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. mug — to rob
  8. current — electric
  9. present — there
  10. mate — to breed
  11. mug — a cup
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. mate — a friend
  14. present — a gift
  15. fine — high quality
  16. mate — a partner
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. pitch — completely
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. mug — a face
  22. stem — to come from
  23. fine — all right
  24. current — of water

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