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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.

Words on the sheet
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: mouse · date · chair · rock · pitcher · lean · last · sharp

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. rock — a stone
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. lean — thin
  10. rock — music
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. last — finally
  13. last — to go on
  14. sharp — clever
  15. chair — a leader
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. last — final
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. date — the fruit
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. lean — to bend
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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