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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 · can · stand · game · branch · bore · bulb · rush

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. bulb — for light
  3. branch — a division
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. game — a match
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. game — wild animals
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. bulb — for light
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. bore — to drill
  16. can — to be able to
  17. pitch — completely
  18. rush — hurry
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. stand — to bear
  23. can — a tin
  24. can — a tin

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