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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: board · kick · suit · bay · pitcher · row · pass · cue

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. board — a committee
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. suit — in cards
  5. cue — a hint
  6. pass — a permit
  7. cue — a signal
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. suit — to fit
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. suit — clothes
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. cue — for pool
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. kick — in football
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. kick — with a leg
  21. row — to paddle
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. board — to get on
  24. kick — a thrill

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