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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: sharp · cap · bay · date · stock · pass · cue · cabinet

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. sharp — clever
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. cue — a hint
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. cap — a hat
  10. stock — shares
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. date — the fruit
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. cue — a signal
  17. cap — of ice
  18. stock — goods
  19. cap — a lid
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. pass — a permit
  23. cue — for pool
  24. cabinet — ministers

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