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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: board · pitcher · suit · pitch · mark · root · rock · tube

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. board — to get on
  4. root — the cause
  5. rock — music
  6. tube — a container
  7. pitch — completely
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. root — of a plant
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. suit — to fit
  13. mark — a trace
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. suit — in cards
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. board — a committee
  18. tube — the underground
  19. root — of a word
  20. suit — clothes
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. mark — a grade
  23. rock — a stone
  24. rock — to move gently

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