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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: season · pitcher · pitch · tube · fine · rash · hand · dip

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. pitch — completely
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. hand — help
  10. season — of the year
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. rash — a series
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. hand — in cards
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. dip — to sink
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. season — in sport
  19. tube — a container
  20. tube — the underground
  21. fine — high quality
  22. rash — hasty
  23. fine — all right
  24. dip — a sauce

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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