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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: pitch · rest · perch · stand · hide · can · rush · saw

  1. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. rush — hurry
  3. can — a tin
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. pitch — completely
  6. perch — the fish
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. can — to be able to
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. saw — the tool
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. can — a tin
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. saw — the tool
  19. stand — to bear
  20. rest — what's left
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. rest — a break
  24. rest — what's left

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