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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: cell · leaves · coach · pit · race · pitch · current · cue

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. He was locked up in a ________________.
  18. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. race — the arms race
  4. pitch — completely
  5. race — humankind
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. cue — for pool
  8. current — of water
  9. cell — a phone
  10. pit — in a race
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. cue — a hint
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. cue — a signal
  17. cell — in a prison
  18. race — a contest
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. current — electric
  21. pit — a hole
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. current — happening now

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