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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · fine · toast · can · row · rule · pitch · rock

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. rock — a stone
  3. row — to paddle
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. fine — all right
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. rule — a law
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. fine — high quality
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. can — to be able to
  17. pitch — completely
  18. toast — bread
  19. rule — to rule out
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. rock — music
  22. row — a line
  23. rule — government
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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