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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: can · track · swing · toast · fall · mug · pitcher · mate

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. mug — a cup
  3. mug — to rob
  4. can — a tin
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. can — a tin
  7. track — a path
  8. swing — music
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. mate — a friend
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. fall — to drop
  13. mate — to breed
  14. toast — bread
  15. swing — to play on
  16. track — a song
  17. can — to be able to
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. fall — to drop
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. mug — a face
  22. mate — a partner
  23. swing — in golf
  24. fall — the season

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