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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: stem · staff · deal · rush · lie · pitch · rash · suit

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. deal — to handle
  7. staff — employees
  8. staff — a stick
  9. rush — hurry
  10. stem — to come from
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. staff — employees
  13. rash — a series
  14. lie — to recline
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. suit — clothes
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. rash — hasty
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. suit — in cards
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. suit — to fit

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