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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: cue · mug · cabinet · pitcher · pound · bear · prune · racket

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. cue — for pool
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. cue — a signal
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. pound — for dogs
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. mug — to rob
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. bear — the animal
  13. prune — to trim
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. cue — a hint
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. prune — to trim
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. mug — a face
  23. mug — a cup
  24. bear — the animal

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