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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 · drill · roll · march · rock · pitch · suit · mug

  1. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. drill — a practice
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. drill — the tool
  5. rock — music
  6. pitch — completely
  7. roll — a list
  8. suit — clothes
  9. mug — to rob
  10. suit — to fit
  11. rock — a stone
  12. fine — all right
  13. mug — a face
  14. drill — army training
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. fine — high quality
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. suit — in cards
  19. march — the month
  20. march — the month
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. roll — a cake
  23. march — music
  24. mug — a cup

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