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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: field · key · coach · mark · date · cue · kick · branch

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. key — the most important part
  4. mark — a trace
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. field — for sport
  10. kick — in football
  11. kick — a thrill
  12. cue — for pool
  13. cue — a hint
  14. cue — a signal
  15. field — a subject
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. mark — a grade
  18. key — for a lock
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. kick — with a leg
  21. branch — a division
  22. field — farmland
  23. key — in music
  24. mark — to pay attention

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