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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: stand · cue · suit · bass · pitcher · bound · game · hide

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. bound — certain
  5. cue — a signal
  6. suit — in cards
  7. stand — to bear
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. bound — obliged
  10. bass — the fish
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. suit — to fit
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. game — a match
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. cue — for pool
  17. game — wild animals
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. bass — low music
  20. suit — clothes
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. bound — tied together
  24. game — a kind of play

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