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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: pitcher · racket · dip · rush · coach · arm · mark · cue

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. mark — a trace
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. cue — a signal
  8. rush — hurry
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. dip — to sink
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. cue — a hint
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. mark — a grade
  24. pitcher — a jug

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