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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: pitch · cue · racket · prune · drill · wake · charge · bound

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. drill — army training
  4. prune — to trim
  5. cue — for pool
  6. bound — tied together
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. charge — in control
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. cue — a signal
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. drill — a practice
  14. wake — a trail
  15. charge — a price
  16. bound — certain
  17. drill — the tool
  18. bound — obliged
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. cue — a hint
  21. prune — to trim
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. charge — electricity

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