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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: ball · stand · cue · can · pitcher · mate · fine · suit

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. fine — high quality
  4. can — a tin
  5. stand — to bear
  6. fine — all right
  7. suit — in cards
  8. ball — a dance
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. ball — a great time
  12. cue — for pool
  13. can — a tin
  14. suit — clothes
  15. mate — a friend
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. suit — to fit
  18. can — to be able to
  19. cue — a hint
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. mate — to breed
  23. mate — a partner
  24. cue — a signal

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