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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
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: squash · season · pitch · date · patient · track · bound · can

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bound — tied together
  3. pitch — completely
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. date — the fruit
  11. track — a path
  12. season — of the year
  13. season — in sport
  14. squash — the sport
  15. bound — certain
  16. track — to keep track
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. bound — obliged
  20. track — a song
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. squash — to crush
  24. patient — a sick person

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