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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: pass · pitcher · mark · object · chip · root · bear · bound

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. chip — to eat
  4. root — the cause
  5. mark — a trace
  6. bear — the animal
  7. pass — a permit
  8. bear — the animal
  9. bound — certain
  10. root — of a word
  11. chip — for betting
  12. bound — obliged
  13. object — to protest
  14. object — a thing
  15. mark — a grade
  16. object — an aim
  17. bound — tied together
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. root — of a plant
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. chip — in a computer

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