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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: mark · foot · bound · land · pass · pitch · fan · lash

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. foot — a measure
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. mark — a grade
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. land — ground
  8. land — a country
  9. mark — a trace
  10. bound — obliged
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. bound — certain
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. bound — tied together
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. pitch — completely
  20. pass — a permit
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. land — to come down
  24. lash — to lash out

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