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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: cue · firm · pass · mate · ball · fall · roll · track

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. firm — steady
  4. cue — for pool
  5. track — a path
  6. pass — a permit
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. track — to keep track
  9. firm — a company
  10. firm — decided
  11. ball — a dance
  12. ball — a great time
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. mate — a friend
  16. mate — a partner
  17. mate — to breed
  18. cue — a signal
  19. track — a song
  20. cue — a hint
  21. roll — a cake
  22. fall — to drop
  23. roll — a list
  24. fall — to drop

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