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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
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: stick · cabinet · land · face · nail · ball · prune · pitch

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. pitch — completely
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. land — ground
  11. ball — a great time
  12. face — to point toward
  13. prune — to trim
  14. face — part of the head
  15. prune — to trim
  16. land — to come down
  17. land — a country
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. face — to confront
  23. ball — a dance
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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