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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.

Make a worksheet

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 · kick · track · object · staff · arm · fine · toast

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. staff — a stick
  3. kick — in football
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. track — to keep track
  6. track — a path
  7. object — to protest
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. kick — a thrill
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. fine — high quality
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. fine — all right
  17. staff — employees
  18. toast — bread
  19. object — a thing
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. track — a song
  23. staff — employees
  24. object — an aim

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