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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: stick · net · pitch · rush · wound · calf · bear · foot

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. net — for catching
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. rush — hurry
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. wound — an injury
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. foot — a measure
  14. net — after costs
  15. wound — an injury
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. net — in sport
  18. bear — the animal
  19. pitch — completely
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. bear — the animal
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. rush — a thrill

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