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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: pitch · stock · cue · cabinet · can · chip · patient · band

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. stock — goods
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. can — a tin
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. cue — a signal
  10. chip — to eat
  11. chip — for betting
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. cue — for pool
  14. band — a ring
  15. band — a music group
  16. can — a tin
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. stock — shares
  20. can — to be able to
  21. cue — a hint
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. pitch — completely
  24. stock — a soup base

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