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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.

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: ball · pitcher · stand · cap · stick · mark · sharp · wave

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. ball — a dance
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. mark — a trace
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. cap — of ice
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. mark — a grade
  17. cap — a lid
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. cap — a hat
  20. ball — a great time
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. stand — to bear
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. sharp — clever

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