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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: can · racket · game · pitcher · coach · row · mug · staff

  1. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. row — to paddle
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. staff — employees
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. row — a line
  9. mug — to rob
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. staff — a stick
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. can — a tin
  15. game — a match
  16. can — to be able to
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. mug — a face
  21. game — wild animals
  22. mug — a cup
  23. staff — employees
  24. can — a tin

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