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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: bay · prune · ball · wake · cue · chip · stock · date

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. ball — a dance
  4. chip — to eat
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. date — the fruit
  7. chip — for betting
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. cue — a hint
  11. stock — goods
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. stock — shares
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. cue — a signal
  19. prune — to trim
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. ball — a great time
  22. wake — a trail
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. prune — to trim

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