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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: net · toast · sharp · object · pitch · mug · pitcher · trunk

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. net — in sport
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. toast — bread
  6. mug — a cup
  7. object — an aim
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. object — to protest
  10. mug — a face
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. object — a thing
  16. mug — to rob
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. net — for catching
  21. sharp — clever
  22. pitch — completely
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. net — after costs

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