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

Word bank: perch · vault · wave · cell · cue · mark · track · plane

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. mark — a grade
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. cue — for pool
  7. track — a song
  8. cell — in biology
  9. cell — a phone
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. track — a path
  12. vault — a safe
  13. cue — a signal
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. mark — a trace
  18. cue — a hint
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. track — to keep track
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. perch — the fish
  24. plane — an aircraft

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