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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 116 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
468
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: cue · nail · pit · wax · straw · leaves · can · pitch

  1. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. cue — a hint
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. can — a tin
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. can — a tin
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. can — to be able to
  12. pitch — completely
  13. straw — to clutch at straws
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. cue — a signal
  19. wax — to grow
  20. pit — in a race
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. cue — for pool
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. straw — a straw man

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