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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: cue · field · prune · rock · track · safe · pitcher · staff

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. field — a subject
  3. track — a song
  4. staff — a stick
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. rock — a stone
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. staff — employees
  9. track — to keep track
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. staff — employees
  14. track — a path
  15. prune — to trim
  16. cue — for pool
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. cue — a hint
  19. field — for sport
  20. field — farmland
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. prune — to trim
  23. cue — a signal
  24. rock — music

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