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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: fine · season · leaves · date · lash · rush · pitcher · pit

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. pit — a hole
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. fine — high quality
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. rush — hurry
  10. fine — all right
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. date — the fruit
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. season — of the year
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. pit — in a race
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. pitcher — a jug

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