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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: pitch · board · sharp · rock · fine · staff · jam · mug

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. mug — a cup
  3. staff — employees
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. fine — high quality
  6. sharp — clever
  7. board — a committee
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. pitch — completely
  10. board — to get on
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. rock — a stone
  13. staff — a stick
  14. fine — all right
  15. mug — a face
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. mug — to rob
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. staff — employees
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. board — a flat piece

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