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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: can · pitcher · coach · bear · pop · pass · ruler · foot

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. pop — to visit
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. foot — a measure
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. pop — music
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. pass — a permit
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. pop — soda
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. can — a tin
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. can — to be able to
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. can — a tin
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. bear — the animal

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