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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: mug · pitcher · pit · saw · fine · last · spell · toast

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. last — final
  3. last — to go on
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. spell — magic
  6. spell — a short time
  7. mug — a cup
  8. pit — a hole
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. saw — the tool
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. mug — a face
  14. last — finally
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. fine — high quality
  17. mug — to rob
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. fine — all right
  21. saw — the tool
  22. pit — in a race
  23. spell — letters
  24. toast — bread

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