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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: roll · chip · racket · bear · squash · pitcher · field · press

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. bear — the animal
  3. roll — a cake
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. squash — to crush
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. squash — the sport
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. press — newspapers
  10. field — farmland
  11. bear — the animal
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. chip — to eat
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. field — for sport
  17. chip — for betting
  18. roll — a list
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. press — a publisher
  23. press — to push
  24. field — a subject

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