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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: pitch · wave · staff · hide · pit · jam · leaves · branch

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. pitch — completely
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. staff — employees
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. staff — employees
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. pit — a hole
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. staff — a stick
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. branch — a division
  24. hide — to keep secret

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