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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.

Make a worksheet

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: arm · pitch · toast · staff · net · jam · key · game

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. staff — employees
  5. net — in sport
  6. toast — bread
  7. key — in music
  8. pitch — completely
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. key — for a lock
  11. game — a match
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. game — wild animals
  14. net — after costs
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. net — for catching
  19. key — the most important part
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. staff — employees
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. toast — the most admired

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