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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 120 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: pitcher · can · face · cabinet · pit · saw · cue · bulb

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. cue — a hint
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. cue — a signal
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. pit — a hole
  9. saw — the tool
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. face — to point toward
  12. can — a tin
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. bulb — for light
  15. pit — in a race
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. cue — for pool
  18. face — to confront
  19. can — a tin
  20. bulb — for light
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. can — to be able to
  23. face — part of the head
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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