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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 · bank · ball · stem · pop · present · cabinet · jam

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. bank — for money
  4. present — a gift
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. stem — to come from
  7. bank — of a river
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. pop — music
  10. present — the time now
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. pitch — completely
  13. present — there
  14. pop — to visit
  15. ball — a dance
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. pop — soda
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. bank — for money
  21. ball — a great time
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. cabinet — ministers

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