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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 · field · rush · stand · foot · current · pass · present

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. rush — hurry
  3. foot — a measure
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pitch — completely
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. present — there
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. field — farmland
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. current — of water
  17. stand — to bear
  18. field — for sport
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. present — a gift
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. current — happening now
  23. field — a subject
  24. current — electric

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