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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mug · pitcher · roll · fan · suit · saw · staff · cap

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. roll — a cake
  4. suit — in cards
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. cap — of ice
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. suit — clothes
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. staff — employees
  11. saw — the tool
  12. roll — a list
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. cap — a hat
  15. mug — a face
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. mug — a cup
  19. staff — a stick
  20. staff — employees
  21. mug — to rob
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. cap — a lid
  24. suit — to fit

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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