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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: pitcher · prune · cabinet · rock · mouse · temple · toast · ground

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. ground — a position
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. ground — the earth
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. ground — crushed
  16. toast — bread
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. prune — to trim
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rock — music
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. prune — to trim
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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