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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 120 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: bay · can · suit · pop · perch · pitch · rash · foot

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. pitch — completely
  3. rash — a series
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. pop — soda
  7. suit — to fit
  8. can — to be able to
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. can — a tin
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. perch — the fish
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. can — a tin
  16. foot — a measure
  17. pop — music
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. suit — in cards
  21. pop — to visit
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. suit — clothes

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