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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.

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: content · pitch · bound · ruler · pit · wound · bulb · sharp

  1. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. pit — in a race
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. content — the amount
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. sharp — clever
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. wound — an injury
  13. content — happy
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. bulb — for light
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. bound — obliged
  18. pitch — completely
  19. pit — a hole
  20. wound — an injury
  21. bound — tied together
  22. bulb — for light
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. bound — certain

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