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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: mate · field · root · bore · rush · calf · pitch · mug

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. mate — to breed
  4. root — of a word
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. field — for sport
  8. mate — a partner
  9. bore — to tire
  10. root — of a plant
  11. field — a subject
  12. mug — a cup
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. mate — a friend
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. field — farmland
  17. bore — to drill
  18. root — the cause
  19. pitch — completely
  20. mug — a face
  21. mug — to rob
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. rush — hurry

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