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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: pitch · net · bulb · firm · bore · mouse · rush · hand

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. bulb — for light
  4. firm — a company
  5. rush — hurry
  6. net — after costs
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. hand — help
  10. bore — to tire
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bore — to drill
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. net — for catching
  16. hand — in cards
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. pitch — completely
  20. firm — steady
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. firm — decided
  23. net — in sport
  24. rush — to hurry

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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