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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: mark · object · cue · season · ground · wake · row · bay

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. There's no middle ________________.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. mark — a grade
  3. ground — the earth
  4. cue — for pool
  5. row — to paddle
  6. row — a line
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. wake — a trail
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. season — in sport
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. object — an aim
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. object — to protest
  15. season — of the year
  16. mark — a trace
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. object — a thing
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. ground — crushed
  21. cue — a hint
  22. cue — a signal
  23. ground — a position
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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