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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: cue · fine · racket · bulb · pitcher · current · board · roll

  1. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. current — of water
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. cue — a signal
  7. board — a committee
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. cue — a hint
  10. bulb — for light
  11. fine — high quality
  12. roll — a list
  13. bulb — for light
  14. roll — a cake
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. current — happening now
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. cue — for pool
  19. current — electric
  20. board — to get on
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. fine — all right
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. board — a flat piece

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