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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 116 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: pitch · club · bark · object · staff · rest · pass · coach

  1. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — of a tree
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. object — to protest
  4. pass — a permit
  5. rest — what's left
  6. club — for dancing
  7. staff — employees
  8. object — an aim
  9. staff — a stick
  10. rest — a break
  11. club — for golf
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. rest — what's left
  14. bark — to shout
  15. pitch — completely
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. staff — employees
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. object — a thing
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. club — a group

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