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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
468
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 · cue · ball · club · bowl · track · lash · plane

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. mark — a grade
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. plane — a tool
  5. ball — a great time
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. track — a song
  8. track — to keep track
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. cue — a hint
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. club — for dancing
  13. cue — for pool
  14. club — a group
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. mark — a trace
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. track — a path
  20. cue — a signal
  21. ball — a dance
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. club — for golf
  24. lash — to lash out

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