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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.

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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: pitch · pitcher · bound · key · rock · squash · calf · bore

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. key — in music
  4. key — for a lock
  5. bound — certain
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bound — tied together
  9. squash — to crush
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. rock — a stone
  14. squash — the sport
  15. rock — music
  16. pitch — completely
  17. key — the most important part
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. bore — to drill
  24. bore — to tire

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