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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.

Make a worksheet

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: pitch · clip · press · wound · pass · wake · fan · key

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. wound — an injury
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. wound — an injury
  5. key — for a lock
  6. clip — a video
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. wake — a trail
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. clip — to cut
  13. key — the most important part
  14. press — to push
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. press — newspapers
  18. clip — for paper
  19. key — in music
  20. press — a publisher
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. pass — a permit
  24. pitch — completely

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