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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 · season · can · plane · cabinet · roll · firm

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. can — a tin
  4. firm — steady
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. season — in sport
  9. firm — decided
  10. roll — a list
  11. roll — a cake
  12. can — a tin
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. cue — for pool
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. season — of the year
  18. cue — a signal
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. plane — a tool
  21. cue — a hint
  22. can — to be able to
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. firm — a company

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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