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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 · game · craft · firm · bark · band · swing · mug

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. swing — music
  3. firm — a company
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. game — wild animals
  6. swing — in golf
  7. craft — a skill
  8. bark — to shout
  9. cue — a signal
  10. mug — to rob
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. swing — to play on
  13. cue — for pool
  14. firm — steady
  15. mug — a cup
  16. bark — a dog's sound
  17. band — a ring
  18. cue — a hint
  19. craft — boats
  20. bark — of a tree
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. band — a music group
  23. mug — a face
  24. firm — decided

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