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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 120 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: board · net · leaves · pound · stick · pitcher · rush · present

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. net — for catching
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. pound — a weight
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. present — there
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. board — to get on
  16. net — after costs
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. rush — hurry
  21. net — in sport
  22. present — a gift
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. board — a committee

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