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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 120 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
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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: squash · dip · pitcher · mark · object · mug · season · pitch

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. mark — a grade
  3. mark — a trace
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. mug — a face
  6. squash — the sport
  7. squash — to crush
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. dip — to sink
  11. object — to protest
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. mug — a cup
  20. season — in sport
  21. object — an aim
  22. pitch — completely
  23. object — a thing
  24. season — of the year

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