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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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. bear — the animal
  6. rush — hurry
  7. can — to be able to
  8. foot — a measure
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — a tin
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. snap — to click
  15. bear — the animal
  16. stand — to bear
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. toast — bread
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. pitcher — a jug

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