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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: cell · pitch · mark · pop · fine · cap · cue · file

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. cap — of ice
  3. file — a tool
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. mark — a grade
  6. cue — for pool
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. cap — a hat
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. cue — a hint
  12. pop — soda
  13. fine — high quality
  14. cap — a lid
  15. file — a document
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. mark — a trace
  18. cell — in biology
  19. pop — music
  20. pitch — completely
  21. cue — a signal
  22. pop — to visit
  23. cell — a phone
  24. fine — all right

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