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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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Word bank
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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: pitcher · content · rash · lean · toast · bore · deal · mug

  1. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. bore — to drill
  4. rash — a series
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. lean — thin
  7. bore — to tire
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. deal — to handle
  11. lean — to bend
  12. content — happy
  13. mug — a face
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. mug — a cup
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. mug — to rob
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. rash — hasty
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. toast — bread

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