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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: pitch · pitcher · tube · leaves · stock · mate · root · lash

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. mate — a friend
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. tube — a container
  8. pitch — completely
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. stock — shares
  11. tube — the underground
  12. root — the cause
  13. mate — to breed
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. root — of a word
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. mate — a partner
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. stock — goods
  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