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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: pit · pop · cue · firm · game · toast · bear · craft

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. cue — for pool
  3. craft — a skill
  4. pit — a hole
  5. firm — steady
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. pop — soda
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. game — a match
  10. firm — decided
  11. toast — bread
  12. bear — the animal
  13. craft — boats
  14. cue — a hint
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. pop — music
  18. pop — to visit
  19. game — wild animals
  20. pit — in a race
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. firm — a company
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. cue — a signal

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