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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: pass · drill · trunk · bulb · pitcher · cue · rash · pit

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. bulb — for light
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. rash — hasty
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bulb — for light
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. drill — army training
  14. cue — a hint
  15. rash — a series
  16. cue — for pool
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. drill — a practice
  19. pit — a hole
  20. cue — a signal
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. pit — in a race
  23. pass — a permit
  24. drill — the tool

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