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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: object · swing · press · sharp · mug · pitch · land · arm

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. press — newspapers
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. mug — to rob
  6. land — a country
  7. swing — to play on
  8. object — a thing
  9. land — ground
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. object — to protest
  13. swing — in golf
  14. mug — a face
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. land — to come down
  17. press — to push
  18. mug — a cup
  19. sharp — clever
  20. swing — music
  21. press — a publisher
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. pitch — completely
  24. object — an aim

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