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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.

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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
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: cabinet · file · season · mug · nail · cue · calf · pitch

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. season — of the year
  3. cue — a hint
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. file — a document
  9. cue — a signal
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. file — a tool
  14. cue — for pool
  15. mug — to rob
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. pitch — completely
  18. file — a line of people
  19. season — in sport
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. mug — a cup
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. mug — a face

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