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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: pitcher · stick · squash · pitch · fan · coach · rock · mark

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. rock — a stone
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. rock — music
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. pitch — completely
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. mark — a trace
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. mark — a grade
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. squash — the sport
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. mark — to pay attention

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