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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: suit · can · prune · pitcher · firm · key · stand · mug

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. firm — a company
  3. prune — to trim
  4. mug — a cup
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. can — a tin
  7. suit — in cards
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. key — for a lock
  10. can — to be able to
  11. firm — steady
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. stand — to bear
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. mug — to rob
  17. prune — to trim
  18. key — the most important part
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. mug — a face
  21. can — a tin
  22. suit — clothes
  23. firm — decided
  24. key — in music

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