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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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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: saw · pitcher · cap · foot · perch · track · bass · pitch

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. perch — the fish
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. cap — of ice
  6. bass — low music
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. track — to keep track
  10. pitch — completely
  11. foot — a measure
  12. bass — the fish
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. cap — a lid
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. saw — the tool
  17. track — a path
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. saw — the tool
  20. track — a song
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. cap — a hat
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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