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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: plane · suit · field · pitch · rash · press · bay · nail

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. press — a publisher
  4. plane — a tool
  5. press — to push
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. field — a subject
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. rash — hasty
  14. suit — to fit
  15. rash — a series
  16. pitch — completely
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. suit — clothes
  19. field — farmland
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. suit — in cards
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. field — for sport

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