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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.

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: fall · mouse · root · date · press · swing · suit · pitcher

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. fall — to drop
  4. swing — in golf
  5. suit — clothes
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. fall — the season
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. press — to push
  10. root — of a plant
  11. date — the fruit
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. root — the cause
  15. suit — in cards
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. press — newspapers
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. swing — music
  20. swing — to play on
  21. fall — to drop
  22. suit — to fit
  23. press — a publisher
  24. root — of a word

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