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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 120 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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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: pit · pass · bulb · bound · pitch · foot · dip · rush

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. bound — tied together
  3. pass — a permit
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. bound — certain
  6. rush — hurry
  7. pit — in a race
  8. dip — to sink
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. bound — obliged
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. pit — a hole
  18. bulb — for light
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. pitch — completely
  21. foot — a measure
  22. bulb — for light
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. dip — to dunk

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