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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: cabinet · nail · suit · mine · pitch · swing · prune · jam

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. swing — music
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. swing — in golf
  6. swing — to play on
  7. prune — to trim
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. pitch — completely
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. suit — in cards
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. suit — to fit
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. suit — clothes
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. prune — to trim
  23. mine — for digging
  24. cabinet — ministers

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