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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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: bowl · row · mug · court · trunk · rash · pitch · cue

  1. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. rash — hasty
  3. court — for sport
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. row — to paddle
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. rash — a series
  8. row — a line
  9. court — of law
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. cue — for pool
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. mug — a cup
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. cue — a signal
  17. mug — a face
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. mug — to rob
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. cue — a hint
  24. pitch — completely

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