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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: spell · cue · racket · prune · nail · pass · board · pitcher

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. board — to get on
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. pass — a permit
  10. prune — to trim
  11. cue — a hint
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. prune — to trim
  16. spell — letters
  17. cue — a signal
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. spell — a short time
  22. cue — for pool
  23. board — a committee
  24. nail — on a finger

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