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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: march · lie · can · pitch · racket · jam · wax · cue

  1. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. march — the month
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. can — a tin
  7. wax — to grow
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. march — the month
  10. can — to be able to
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. pitch — completely
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. cue — for pool
  15. cue — a hint
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. cue — a signal
  23. lie — to recline
  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