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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: cue · pitch · toast · face · tube · game · lash · staff

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. game — wild animals
  3. face — part of the head
  4. staff — a stick
  5. cue — a hint
  6. cue — for pool
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. pitch — completely
  10. staff — employees
  11. toast — bread
  12. tube — the underground
  13. face — to confront
  14. tube — a container
  15. staff — employees
  16. cue — a signal
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. face — to point toward
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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