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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: saw · chip · capital · coach · pass · ground · rock · pitcher

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. capital — a big letter
  6. pass — a permit
  7. saw — the tool
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. rock — a stone
  10. ground — crushed
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. ground — a position
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. chip — to eat
  19. capital — money
  20. rock — music
  21. capital — a city
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. saw — the tool
  24. chip — for betting

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