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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 is an ace ________________.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. bear — the animal
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. net — after costs
  6. foot — a measure
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. fine — high quality
  9. staff — employees
  10. bear — the animal
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. staff — a stick
  13. staff — employees
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. net — in sport
  16. net — for catching
  17. fine — all right
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. pass — a permit
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. pass — to succeed

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