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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.

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: date · patient · cue · pitcher · snap · mug · ball · rest

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. mug — a face
  4. mug — a cup
  5. rest — a break
  6. cue — for pool
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. mug — to rob
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. rest — what's left
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. cue — a signal
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. ball — a dance
  19. rest — what's left
  20. cue — a hint
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. ball — a great time
  24. snap — to click

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