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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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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: deal · rock · pitch · firm · root · arm · mouse · toast

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. firm — steady
  5. deal — to handle
  6. firm — a company
  7. pitch — completely
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. root — of a word
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. rock — music
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. rock — a stone
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. toast — bread
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. root — the cause
  18. firm — decided
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. root — of a plant
  24. arm — part of the body

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