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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 116 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 · key · pitch · suit · wax · content · stand · mate

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. mark — a grade
  4. key — the most important part
  5. stand — to bear
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. pitch — completely
  10. suit — in cards
  11. key — for a lock
  12. key — in music
  13. content — the amount
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. suit — clothes
  16. mate — a partner
  17. mark — a trace
  18. suit — to fit
  19. mate — to breed
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. mate — a friend
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. wax — to grow
  24. content — happy

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