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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: leaves · deal · rock · mate · cap · ruler · pitch · sharp

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. mate — a partner
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. cap — a hat
  7. cap — of ice
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. rock — a stone
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. rock — music
  16. mate — to breed
  17. pitch — completely
  18. deal — to handle
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. sharp — clever
  22. cap — a lid
  23. mate — a friend
  24. leaves — to go away

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