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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: mug · cue · pitcher · craft · fan · kick · nail · pass

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. mug — to rob
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. craft — boats
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. pass — a permit
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. craft — a skill
  16. cue — a hint
  17. cue — a signal
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. mug — a face
  22. cue — for pool
  23. mug — a cup
  24. pass — to succeed

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