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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: rush · lash · pitch · lean · bay · bulb · leaves · pit

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. pitch — completely
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. pit — in a race
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. lean — to bend
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. bulb — for light
  16. lean — thin
  17. bulb — for light
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. pit — a hole
  24. rush — hurry

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