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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. bear — the animal
  3. cue — for pool
  4. key — for a lock
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. bass — the fish
  7. court — of law
  8. bass — low music
  9. bear — the animal
  10. can — a tin
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. can — to be able to
  13. cue — a signal
  14. key — in music
  15. tube — a container
  16. court — of a king
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. court — for sport
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. can — a tin
  21. key — the most important part
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. cue — a hint
  24. tube — the underground

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