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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
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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: squash · spell · mug · bound · rush · pitcher · deal · swing

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. mug — to rob
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. mug — a face
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. spell — a short time
  7. swing — in golf
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. swing — music
  11. squash — to crush
  12. bound — certain
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. spell — letters
  15. swing — to play on
  16. deal — to handle
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bound — obliged
  20. squash — the sport
  21. bound — tied together
  22. spell — magic
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. mug — a cup

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