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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 120 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: rush · pitch · kid · craft · firm · spring · pass · fine

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. firm — a company
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. craft — a skill
  6. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  7. fine — high quality
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. kid — child
  12. spring — a coil
  13. pass — a permit
  14. fine — all right
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. pitch — completely
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. firm — steady
  19. spring — the season
  20. spring — of water
  21. craft — boats
  22. kid — to tease
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. rush — hurry

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