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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: cue · wake · pop · band · bass · firm · suit · coach

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. firm — a company
  3. suit — clothes
  4. suit — to fit
  5. band — a music group
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. cue — a hint
  8. bass — the fish
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. firm — decided
  11. cue — for pool
  12. wake — a trail
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. pop — to visit
  15. bass — low music
  16. pop — music
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. cue — a signal
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. suit — in cards
  22. firm — steady
  23. band — a ring
  24. pop — soda

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