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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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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 old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. suit — in cards
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. drill — a practice
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. cue — a hint
  9. staff — employees
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. cue — for pool
  12. cue — a signal
  13. drill — army training
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. suit — clothes
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. suit — to fit
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. staff — employees
  23. drill — the tool
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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