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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 · pitcher · tube · bowl · charge · safe · bass · trunk

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. cue — a hint
  3. cue — for pool
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. bass — the fish
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. cue — a signal
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. tube — a container
  17. charge — in control
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. charge — a price
  22. tube — the underground
  23. charge — electricity
  24. bass — low 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