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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
468
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: fine · ball · board · pitcher · bay · rash · stick · prune

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. fine — high quality
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. board — to get on
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. prune — to trim
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. fine — all right
  14. ball — a dance
  15. ball — a great time
  16. prune — to trim
  17. rash — a series
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. board — a committee
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. rash — hasty
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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