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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: craft · jam · pitcher · can · march · pitch · bear · patient

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. march — the month
  4. can — a tin
  5. bear — the animal
  6. march — music
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. can — to be able to
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. pitch — completely
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. craft — a skill
  17. can — a tin
  18. craft — boats
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. march — the month
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. jam — in traffic

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