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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: pitch · toast · track · charge · mug · net · bound · bay

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. mug — a cup
  4. track — a path
  5. track — to keep track
  6. bound — obliged
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. toast — bread
  9. net — in sport
  10. track — a song
  11. charge — electricity
  12. pitch — completely
  13. charge — in control
  14. bound — certain
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. charge — a price
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. mug — to rob
  22. net — for catching
  23. mug — a face
  24. bound — tied together

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