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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: tube · rock · fan · firm · mark · bound · pitcher · pitch

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. pitch — completely
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. bound — obliged
  7. mark — a grade
  8. firm — steady
  9. mark — a trace
  10. firm — decided
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. firm — a company
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. rock — a stone
  19. rock — music
  20. bound — tied together
  21. tube — the underground
  22. bound — certain
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. tube — a container

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