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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.

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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: ball · pass · saw · bay · chip · stick · pitcher · mark

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. mark — a trace
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. ball — a great time
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. saw — the tool
  15. mark — a grade
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. pass — a permit
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. chip — for betting
  24. ball — a dance

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