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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.

Make a worksheet

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: fine · coach · arm · mouse · pit · mate · pitcher · object

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. mate — to breed
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. fine — high quality
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. fine — all right
  11. pit — in a race
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. mate — a partner
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. object — an aim
  18. object — a thing
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. object — to protest
  22. pit — a hole
  23. mate — a friend
  24. arm — part of the body

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