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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: present · roll · bear · wound · suit · pitcher · pitch · racket

  1. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. suit — to fit
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. present — a gift
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. present — there
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. roll — a list
  11. pitch — completely
  12. suit — clothes
  13. wound — an injury
  14. wound — an injury
  15. present — the time now
  16. suit — in cards
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. roll — a cake
  19. bear — the animal
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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