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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
468
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: pitcher · kick · date · press · wound · pass · foot · season

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. pass — a permit
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. foot — a measure
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. press — newspapers
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. wound — an injury
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. press — to push
  18. season — in sport
  19. date — the fruit
  20. wound — an injury
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. season — of the year
  24. press — a publisher

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