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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 116 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: net · pitch · wax · swing · mug · stem · chip · can

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. mug — a cup
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. net — for catching
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. swing — in golf
  8. pitch — completely
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. swing — music
  12. can — a tin
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. can — a tin
  15. net — after costs
  16. net — in sport
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. wax — to grow
  19. stem — to come from
  20. swing — to play on
  21. chip — for betting
  22. can — to be able to
  23. mug — to rob
  24. mug — a face

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