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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: fall · cue · mark · prune · pass · tube · plane · current

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. fall — to drop
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. tube — a container
  5. current — happening now
  6. mark — a trace
  7. prune — to trim
  8. mark — a grade
  9. plane — a tool
  10. fall — the season
  11. current — of water
  12. current — electric
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pass — a permit
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. cue — for pool
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. tube — the underground
  21. prune — to trim
  22. cue — a hint
  23. fall — to drop
  24. plane — an aircraft

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