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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: key · pitch · march · bowl · charge · date · cap · lean

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. march — music
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. key — in music
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. cap — of ice
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. key — the most important part
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. march — the month
  12. charge — in control
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. pitch — completely
  15. key — for a lock
  16. march — the month
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. cap — a lid
  20. date — the fruit
  21. charge — a price
  22. lean — thin
  23. charge — electricity
  24. cap — a hat

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