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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 · bore · cabinet · shower · firm · jam · pit · cap

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  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. shower — rain
  2. firm — a company
  3. bore — to drill
  4. pit — in a race
  5. firm — decided
  6. shower — to wash
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. pit — a hole
  9. cap — a lid
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. pitch — completely
  12. cap — of ice
  13. bore — to tire
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. firm — steady
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. cabinet — ministers
  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