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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.

Make a worksheet

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: chair · pitch · pound · pass · pop · pit · stock · craft

  1. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  12. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. pop — to visit
  3. pitch — completely
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. pass — a permit
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. pit — a hole
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. craft — boats
  11. chair — a leader
  12. pound — for dogs
  13. stock — goods
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. pound — to hit hard
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. stock — shares
  18. chair — to sit on
  19. pound — a weight
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. pit — in a race
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. craft — a skill
  24. pop — music

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