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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: object · fan · rock · pitch · present · dip · chair · row

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. chair — a leader
  3. object — to protest
  4. object — an aim
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. present — a gift
  7. pitch — completely
  8. dip — to sink
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. row — to paddle
  11. object — a thing
  12. row — a line
  13. present — the time now
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. rock — music
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. present — there

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