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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.

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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: pitcher · firm · ground · bear · pop · press · roll · mark

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. roll — a cake
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. pop — soda
  5. firm — decided
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. press — a publisher
  8. firm — steady
  9. ground — the earth
  10. mark — a grade
  11. bear — the animal
  12. press — to push
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. pop — to visit
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. ground — crushed
  17. press — newspapers
  18. firm — a company
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. ground — a position
  21. bear — the animal
  22. pop — music
  23. roll — a list
  24. mark — to pay attention

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