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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: root · pitcher · can · field · racket · track · mug · dip

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. field — farmland
  3. dip — to sink
  4. field — for sport
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. mug — a face
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. root — of a word
  9. track — to keep track
  10. mug — to rob
  11. can — a tin
  12. root — the cause
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. track — a song
  16. field — a subject
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. track — a path
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. can — to be able to
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. root — of a plant
  23. mug — a cup
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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