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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 116 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: pitcher · staff · bound · mug · bulb · bowl · dip · pitch

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. bound — certain
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. staff — employees
  8. mug — a face
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bulb — for light
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. bound — obliged
  13. bound — tied together
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. dip — to sink
  16. staff — a stick
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. mug — to rob
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. pitch — completely
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. mug — a cup

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