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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: foot · bulb · cue · can · pitch · bear · bay · mate

  1. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. cue — for pool
  3. bear — the animal
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. mate — a friend
  6. bulb — for light
  7. pitch — completely
  8. can — to be able to
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. cue — a signal
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. foot — a measure
  14. can — a tin
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. mate — to breed
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. cue — a hint
  21. can — a tin
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. mate — a partner
  24. bulb — for light

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