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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: pop · firm · foot · ball · can · pit · snap · pitcher

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. can — to be able to
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. can — a tin
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. firm — steady
  7. snap — to click
  8. firm — decided
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. pit — a hole
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. ball — a dance
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. firm — a company
  17. pop — to visit
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. can — a tin
  21. ball — a great time
  22. pit — in a race
  23. pop — soda
  24. pop — music

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