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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: foot · key · mate · mug · mine · pitcher · bear · club

  1. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. club — for dancing
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. club — a group
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. mug — to rob
  9. key — the most important part
  10. club — for golf
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. key — in music
  14. key — for a lock
  15. bear — the animal
  16. mug — a face
  17. mate — a friend
  18. bear — the animal
  19. mate — to breed
  20. mug — a cup
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. foot — a measure
  23. mate — a partner
  24. bear — to put up with

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