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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: pitch · mouse · pop · firm · squash · bulb · bound · bank

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bound — obliged
  3. pop — to visit
  4. pop — music
  5. pitch — completely
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. firm — decided
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. squash — to crush
  10. firm — steady
  11. pop — soda
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. firm — a company
  14. bound — certain
  15. squash — the sport
  16. bank — for money
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bank — of a river
  19. bound — tied together
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bank — for money

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