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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: court · fine · toast · pitch · arm · band · hide · face

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. court — of a king
  4. face — part of the head
  5. fine — high quality
  6. band — a ring
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. fine — all right
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. toast — bread
  17. pitch — completely
  18. court — for sport
  19. court — of law
  20. face — to point toward
  21. band — a music group
  22. face — to confront
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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