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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 120 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: mug · pitcher · stick · snap · deal · staff · rock · track

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. track — a path
  3. track — to keep track
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. deal — to handle
  6. mug — a cup
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. staff — employees
  10. snap — to click
  11. rock — music
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. rock — a stone
  14. staff — a stick
  15. track — a song
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. staff — employees
  22. mug — a face
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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