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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: pitcher · rock · mate · pitch · content · roll · suit · rush

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. roll — a cake
  3. suit — in cards
  4. content — the amount
  5. suit — to fit
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. suit — clothes
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. mate — a partner
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. rush — hurry
  14. mate — a friend
  15. content — happy
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. rock — music
  20. roll — a list
  21. rock — a stone
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. mate — to breed
  24. rock — to move gently

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