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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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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: roll · bowl · stick · sharp · pitch · ruler · suit · bay

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. roll — a cake
  5. roll — a list
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. suit — in cards
  9. pitch — completely
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. sharp — clever
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. suit — to fit
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. suit — clothes

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