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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: pitch · stand · cue · club · mug · bulb · rush · racket

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. club — for dancing
  3. stand — to bear
  4. mug — to rob
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. rush — hurry
  7. cue — a signal
  8. club — for golf
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. bulb — for light
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. club — a group
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. mug — a face
  20. pitch — completely
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. mug — a cup
  24. cue — a hint

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