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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 116 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: can · rock · stick · deal · kick · pound · pit · pitcher

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. rock — a stone
  3. kick — in football
  4. pound — for dogs
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pound — a weight
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. pit — in a race
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. pit — a hole
  16. can — a tin
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. rock — music
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. deal — to handle
  24. kick — a thrill

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