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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. cue — for pool
  3. track — a song
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. mark — a trace
  7. key — in music
  8. key — the most important part
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. cue — a hint
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. cell — in biology
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. stock — shares
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. key — for a lock
  19. stock — goods
  20. dip — to sink
  21. cell — a phone
  22. cue — a signal
  23. track — a path
  24. track — to keep track

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