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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: bound · row · pitch · mouse · hide · squash · plane · track

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. squash — the sport
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. row — a line
  6. track — a path
  7. bound — tied together
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. bound — obliged
  11. track — a song
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. plane — a tool
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. track — to keep track
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. bound — certain
  18. pitch — completely
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. squash — to crush

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