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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: toast · spell · pitch · can · rush · board · pit · dip

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. spell — letters
  3. pit — a hole
  4. rush — hurry
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. pitch — completely
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. spell — magic
  12. can — a tin
  13. board — to get on
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. can — a tin
  16. dip — to sink
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. spell — a short time
  21. toast — bread
  22. can — to be able to
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. board — a committee

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