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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 116 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: leaves · pitch · file · lash · bound · deal · squash · mouse

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. file — a tool
  7. bound — tied together
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. deal — to handle
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. squash — to crush
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. file — a line of people
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. bound — certain
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. squash — the sport
  19. bound — obliged
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. file — a document
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. pitch — completely
  24. mouse — the animal

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