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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: mate · cue · sharp · bank · wave · bass · bark · date

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. cue — a hint
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. date — the fruit
  6. bank — for money
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. bark — to shout
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. bass — low music
  14. bass — the fish
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. mate — a friend
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. bank — of a river
  20. mate — a partner
  21. sharp — clever
  22. bank — for money
  23. cue — a signal
  24. mate — to breed

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