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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: rash · fine · nail · suit · pound · fan · pop · pitch

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. suit — clothes
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. pop — soda
  9. pop — music
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. pop — to visit
  12. suit — in cards
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. rash — hasty
  15. fine — high quality
  16. suit — to fit
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. pitch — completely
  19. fine — all right
  20. rash — a series
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. fine — a penalty

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