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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: bore · net · press · stand · rock · pitch · arm · jam

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. press — newspapers
  4. press — a publisher
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. net — for catching
  8. rock — a stone
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. press — to push
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. net — in sport
  15. bore — to tire
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. pitch — completely
  18. bore — to drill
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. stand — to bear
  22. rock — music
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. arm — a part of something

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