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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: stand · pitch · mug · racket · pitcher · bear · bay · firm

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. firm — a company
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. mug — a cup
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. bear — the animal
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. firm — steady
  18. bear — the animal
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. pitch — completely
  21. stand — to bear
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. firm — decided
  24. mug — a face

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