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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: stand · net · fork · jam · bulb · tube · lie · pitch

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. net — for catching
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. pitch — completely
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bulb — for light
  10. net — in sport
  11. net — after costs
  12. tube — the underground
  13. lie — to recline
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. bulb — for light
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. tube — a container
  21. stand — to bear
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. fork — in a road

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