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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: swing · lie · foot · squash · pass · rest · pitch · rush

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. pitch — completely
  3. swing — in golf
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. squash — the sport
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. squash — to crush
  8. rest — what's left
  9. rest — a break
  10. foot — a measure
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. rush — hurry
  16. swing — to play on
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. pass — a permit
  19. rest — what's left
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. swing — music
  24. lie — to recline

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