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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: last · nail · pitch · pass · dip · staff · lie · cap

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. last — final
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. cap — a lid
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. pitch — completely
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. staff — a stick
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. last — finally
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. staff — employees
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. cap — of ice
  17. dip — to sink
  18. staff — employees
  19. lie — to recline
  20. last — to go on
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. cap — a hat

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