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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.

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: bay · bound · pitch · mark · leaves · spring · mug · stick

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. mug — to rob
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. mug — a face
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. spring — of water
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. spring — the season
  12. mark — a grade
  13. pitch — completely
  14. bound — certain
  15. bound — obliged
  16. bound — tied together
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. mug — a cup
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. spring — a coil
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. bay — a horse colour

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