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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 · bear · coach · pitch · cue · mug · wave · board

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. mug — a face
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. cue — for pool
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. board — to get on
  8. bear — the animal
  9. mug — a cup
  10. mug — to rob
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. ball — a great time
  13. ball — a dance
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. cue — a hint
  16. bear — the animal
  17. cue — a signal
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. pitch — completely
  23. board — a committee
  24. pitch — a sports field

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