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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: bowl · bound · fine · mug · cap · pitch · date · firm

  1. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. cap — a lid
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. bound — obliged
  7. date — the fruit
  8. mug — a face
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. bound — tied together
  11. cap — of ice
  12. bound — certain
  13. fine — all right
  14. mug — a cup
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. firm — decided
  17. firm — steady
  18. mug — to rob
  19. firm — a company
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. cap — a hat
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. fine — high quality
  24. pitch — completely

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