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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: rock · cue · court · can · pitcher · perch · stand · wave

  1. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  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. court — of law
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. cue — a hint
  5. court — of a king
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. perch — the fish
  10. can — to be able to
  11. stand — to bear
  12. cue — for pool
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. rock — music
  19. court — for sport
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — a tin
  22. rock — a stone
  23. wave — of the sea
  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