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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: bay · cue · squash · bulb · court · stand · bank · cabinet

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. bulb — for light
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. cue — a signal
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. bank — for money
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. court — of a king
  11. bank — for money
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. court — for sport
  14. bank — of a river
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. court — of law
  18. bulb — for light
  19. squash — to crush
  20. cue — a hint
  21. squash — the sport
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. cue — for pool

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