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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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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: mug · pitcher · cue · staff · racket · fork · calf · bound

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. mug — a cup
  3. cue — a signal
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. staff — a stick
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. cue — a hint
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bound — tied together
  12. fork — in a road
  13. mug — a face
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bound — obliged
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. bound — certain
  19. cue — for pool
  20. staff — employees
  21. mug — to rob
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. staff — employees
  24. fork — a garden tool

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