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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: roll · rush · cabinet · chair · saw · cue · jam · pitch

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  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. saw — the tool
  2. saw — the tool
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. roll — a list
  5. cue — for pool
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. pitch — completely
  8. rush — hurry
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. chair — a leader
  16. roll — a cake
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. chair — to sit on
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. cue — a hint
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. jam — a tight spot
  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