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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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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 · mark · game · cue · stand · date · rule · pitch

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. cue — for pool
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. rule — government
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. rule — a law
  11. pitch — completely
  12. game — a match
  13. mark — a grade
  14. date — the fruit
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. pass — a permit
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. cue — a signal
  20. cue — a hint
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. stand — to bear
  23. rule — to rule out
  24. game — wild animals

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