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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 · ball · chair · saw · cap · pitcher · stem · can

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. cap — a lid
  3. cap — a hat
  4. squash — the sport
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. chair — to sit on
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. saw — the tool
  9. can — a tin
  10. ball — a dance
  11. can — to be able to
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. can — a tin
  15. cap — of ice
  16. chair — a leader
  17. saw — the tool
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. squash — to crush
  20. chair — a professorship
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. ball — a great time

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