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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: pitch · rush · season · stand · chair · board · spell · sharp

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. sharp — clever
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. board — to get on
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. stand — to bear
  9. spell — a short time
  10. chair — to sit on
  11. board — a committee
  12. season — of the year
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. rush — hurry
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. chair — a leader
  18. season — in sport
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. spell — magic
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. spell — letters

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