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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: pitch · cabinet · fine · season · tube · mouse · object · prune

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. prune — to trim
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. fine — all right
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. tube — the underground
  12. object — a thing
  13. season — of the year
  14. object — to protest
  15. prune — to trim
  16. fine — high quality
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. tube — a container
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. pitch — completely
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. season — in sport

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