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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. drill — a practice
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pop — music
  6. pop — soda
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. deal — to handle
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. drill — army training
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. drill — the tool
  17. rush — hurry
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. pop — to visit
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. pitch — completely
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. deal — a big deal

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