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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: lie · pitch · board · track · file · mug · coach · fan

  1. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. file — a line of people
  3. mug — a cup
  4. board — a committee
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. mug — a face
  8. file — a tool
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. pitch — completely
  11. track — a path
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. file — a document
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. lie — to recline
  16. mug — to rob
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. board — to get on
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. track — to keep track
  23. track — a song
  24. lie — an untruth

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