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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 · bowl · cabinet · object · kick · toast · stick · mug

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. object — to protest
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. object — an aim
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. toast — bread
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. mug — a face
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. mug — to rob
  18. kick — a thrill
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. mug — a cup
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. object — a thing
  23. kick — in football
  24. bowl — a football final

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