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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.

Make a worksheet

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: pitcher · root · can · spell · tube · pass · pound · kick

  1. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  24. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — a thrill
  2. tube — the underground
  3. root — of a plant
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. spell — magic
  7. root — of a word
  8. kick — with a leg
  9. can — a tin
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. kick — in football
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. spell — a short time
  14. root — the cause
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. spell — letters
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. tube — a container
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — to be able to
  22. pass — a permit
  23. pound — a weight
  24. pound — to hit hard

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