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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
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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: court · stand · cue · jam · key · last · club · mug

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. The ball is in your ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. key — in music
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. club — a group
  6. last — to go on
  7. key — the most important part
  8. stand — to bear
  9. mug — a cup
  10. cue — for pool
  11. cue — a hint
  12. cue — a signal
  13. last — final
  14. mug — a face
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. key — for a lock
  17. court — for sport
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. last — finally
  20. court — of law
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. club — for dancing
  23. court — of a king
  24. club — for golf

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