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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: deal · court · stick · jam · pop · pass · pitch · can

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. court — for sport
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. can — to be able to
  8. deal — to handle
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. pop — to visit
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pop — soda
  15. pass — a permit
  16. court — of law
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. pop — music
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. can — a tin
  21. court — of a king
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. pitch — completely
  24. deal — a big deal

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