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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: nail · pitch · pass · mug · ball · key · lean · present

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. present — there
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. present — the time now
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. ball — a great time
  10. key — in music
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. mug — a cup
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. lean — thin
  15. present — a gift
  16. mug — a face
  17. mug — to rob
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. key — for a lock
  21. lean — to bend
  22. pitch — completely
  23. key — the most important part
  24. lean — to rest against

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