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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
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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: rush · ground · prune · key · suit · game · cabinet · pitcher

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. key — in music
  5. suit — to fit
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. rush — hurry
  8. ground — the earth
  9. game — wild animals
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. game — a match
  13. prune — to trim
  14. suit — clothes
  15. key — the most important part
  16. ground — crushed
  17. key — for a lock
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. ground — a position
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. prune — to trim
  23. suit — in cards
  24. game — a kind of play

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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