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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: track · pitcher · pitch · ground · file · rock · mouse · wave

  1. There's no middle ________________.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. track — a path
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. file — a tool
  8. rock — music
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. ground — the earth
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. file — a document
  13. track — a song
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. rock — a stone
  16. track — to keep track
  17. ground — crushed
  18. file — a line of people
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. pitch — completely
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. mouse — the animal

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