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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: plane · cue · perch · pass · rock · stick · track · cap

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. cue — for pool
  4. rock — a stone
  5. cue — a hint
  6. cap — of ice
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. pass — a permit
  9. track — a song
  10. plane — a tool
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. rock — music
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. track — a path
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. cap — a lid
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. cap — a hat
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. track — to keep track
  23. perch — the fish
  24. pass — to succeed

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