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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: mug · snap · ground · date · nail · deal · pitch · cue

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. deal — to handle
  3. ground — the earth
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. ground — crushed
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. cue — for pool
  11. mug — a cup
  12. pitch — completely
  13. ground — a position
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. cue — a signal
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. snap — to click
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. date — the fruit
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. mug — a face
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. cue — a hint

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