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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. pitch — completely
  3. root — the cause
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. hand — in cards
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. hand — help
  8. root — of a plant
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. mate — to breed
  11. club — a group
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. mate — a partner
  14. mug — to rob
  15. plane — a tool
  16. club — for golf
  17. club — for dancing
  18. root — of a word
  19. squash — to crush
  20. squash — the sport
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. mate — a friend
  23. mug — a face
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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