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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: key · squash · tube · pitcher · cue · pound · mouse · bulb

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. tube — a container
  4. cue — a hint
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. squash — to crush
  7. key — for a lock
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. bulb — for light
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. cue — a signal
  13. tube — the underground
  14. pound — a weight
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. pound — to hit hard
  17. squash — the sport
  18. key — the most important part
  19. bulb — for light
  20. pound — for dogs
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. cue — for pool
  24. key — in music

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