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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: march · spell · pass · lie · coach · prune · pitch · file

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. file — a document
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. spell — magic
  7. march — the month
  8. spell — letters
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. spell — a short time
  12. lie — to recline
  13. pass — a permit
  14. prune — to trim
  15. march — the month
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. file — a line of people
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. march — music
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. pitch — completely
  23. file — a tool
  24. prune — to trim

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