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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: suit · tube · fine · pitcher · current · stand · arm · court

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. stand — to bear
  4. tube — a container
  5. suit — to fit
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. fine — all right
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. suit — in cards
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. current — electric
  13. current — of water
  14. current — happening now
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. court — of law
  19. fine — high quality
  20. court — for sport
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. court — of a king
  23. tube — the underground
  24. arm — part of the body

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