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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 · mug · root · staff · jam · stick · present · stand

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. root — the cause
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. staff — a stick
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. mug — a face
  9. staff — employees
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. present — the time now
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. root — of a plant
  16. stand — to bear
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. root — of a word
  19. present — there
  20. staff — employees
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. mug — a cup
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. present — a gift

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