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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 120 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: arm · cue · ball · mark · pass · stock · bulb · wake

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. wake — a trail
  3. bulb — for light
  4. stock — goods
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. ball — a great time
  7. mark — a grade
  8. bulb — for light
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. cue — for pool
  11. mark — a trace
  12. pass — a permit
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. stock — shares
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. cue — a hint
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. ball — a dance

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