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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.

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: cabinet · ground · cue · rush · plane · jam · rash · pitch

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. rash — a series
  4. pitch — completely
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. ground — the earth
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. ground — a position
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. plane — a tool
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. cue — for pool
  15. ground — crushed
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. rash — hasty
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. rush — hurry
  23. cue — a signal
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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