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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 · face · pass · track · vault · pitcher · coach · nail

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. track — to keep track
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. face — part of the head
  6. vault — a safe
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. track — a song
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. pass — a permit
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. pitch — completely
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. track — a path
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. face — to confront
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. face — to point toward

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