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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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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: pitcher · bowl · dip · arm · charge · cap · press · deal

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. cap — a lid
  4. press — newspapers
  5. cap — of ice
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. charge — a price
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. deal — to handle
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. charge — electricity
  12. cap — a hat
  13. press — a publisher
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. press — to push
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. charge — in control
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. dip — to sink
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. pitcher — a jug

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