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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: lie · club · sharp · date · arm · season · cue · rock

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. club — for dancing
  5. rock — music
  6. sharp — clever
  7. cue — for pool
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. season — in sport
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. lie — to recline
  14. season — of the year
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. cue — a hint
  17. cue — a signal
  18. club — a group
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. rock — a stone
  22. club — for golf
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. rock — to move gently

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