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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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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: rule · mate · suit · lie · swing · lash · jam · pitch

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  8. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. mate — a partner
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. mate — a friend
  6. suit — clothes
  7. rule — government
  8. rule — to rule out
  9. suit — in cards
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. suit — to fit
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. swing — in golf
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. mate — to breed
  18. swing — music
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. swing — to play on
  22. rule — a law
  23. lie — to recline
  24. lash — to lash out

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