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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: pit · plane · board · cue · cabinet · club · leaves · prune

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. club — for dancing
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. prune — to trim
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. pit — a hole
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. board — to get on
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. plane — a tool
  16. cue — for pool
  17. club — for golf
  18. club — a group
  19. pit — in a race
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. cue — a signal
  22. prune — to trim
  23. board — a committee
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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