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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: pass · wake · ball · prune · shower · toast · bay · cue

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. shower — to wash
  3. toast — bread
  4. shower — rain
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. ball — a dance
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. cue — for pool
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. cue — a signal
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pass — a permit
  15. wake — a trail
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. prune — to trim
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. ball — a great time
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. prune — to trim
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. toast — the most admired

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