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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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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: track · snap · date · bore · calf · mark · saw · cue

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. track — a path
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. saw — the tool
  6. bore — to drill
  7. saw — the tool
  8. cue — a signal
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. cue — for pool
  11. track — a song
  12. track — to keep track
  13. bore — to tire
  14. mark — a trace
  15. mark — a grade
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. cue — a hint
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. snap — to click
  24. date — on the calendar

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