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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: cue · pop · mark · object · suit · root · fork · race

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. cue — a signal
  3. suit — to fit
  4. pop — music
  5. pop — to visit
  6. suit — in cards
  7. root — the cause
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. object — an aim
  10. mark — a grade
  11. mark — a trace
  12. pop — soda
  13. root — of a word
  14. suit — clothes
  15. object — to protest
  16. cue — for pool
  17. race — the arms race
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. race — a contest
  20. cue — a hint
  21. race — humankind
  22. object — a thing
  23. root — of a plant
  24. mark — to pay attention

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