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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: pop · cue · stand · net · dip · scale · wound · mark

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. mark — a trace
  3. cue — for pool
  4. cue — a signal
  5. net — in sport
  6. pop — soda
  7. scale — in music
  8. net — for catching
  9. wound — an injury
  10. net — after costs
  11. pop — music
  12. mark — a grade
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. cue — a hint
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. scale — size or range
  19. wound — an injury
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. pop — to visit
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. dip — to sink
  24. stand — to bear

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