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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: ruler · bulb · can · bowl · saw · pitch · jam · pit

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. pit — a hole
  5. can — a tin
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. pitch — completely
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. saw — the tool
  10. can — to be able to
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. can — a tin
  13. saw — the tool
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. pit — in a race
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. bulb — for light
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. bulb — for light
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. ruler — for measuring

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