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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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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: rest · leaves · charge · pit · lash · pitch · key · present

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. charge — a price
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. charge — electricity
  5. pitch — completely
  6. key — for a lock
  7. key — in music
  8. present — there
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. present — a gift
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. rest — what's left
  15. present — the time now
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. rest — a break
  18. charge — in control
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. key — the most important part
  22. pit — in a race
  23. pit — a hole
  24. leaves — to go away

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