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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: rush · pitcher · nail · pitch · staff · calf · object · leaves

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. object — a thing
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. staff — employees
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. object — to protest
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. pitch — completely
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. staff — a stick
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. object — an aim
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. rush — hurry
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. staff — employees

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