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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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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: wake · mouse · pitch · chip · stand · rule · mark · root

  1. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. stand — to bear
  4. mark — a grade
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. wake — a trail
  11. rule — a law
  12. root — of a plant
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. rule — government
  18. pitch — completely
  19. root — of a word
  20. root — the cause
  21. chip — for betting
  22. chip — to eat
  23. mark — a trace
  24. stand — for spectators

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