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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: mouse · trunk · squash · bound · pitch · suit · march · cue

  1. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. march — the month
  3. cue — a signal
  4. pitch — completely
  5. suit — to fit
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. suit — in cards
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. suit — clothes
  13. march — music
  14. squash — to crush
  15. cue — a hint
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bound — certain
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. cue — for pool
  20. squash — the sport
  21. march — the month
  22. bound — obliged
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. trunk — of a tree

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