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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: date · stem · cue · rash · ball · fine · rush · drill

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. drill — army training
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. stem — to come from
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. cue — a hint
  10. cue — a signal
  11. drill — a practice
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. cue — for pool
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. date — the fruit
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. drill — the tool
  19. fine — high quality
  20. rush — hurry
  21. ball — a dance
  22. ball — a great time
  23. fine — all right
  24. rash — hasty

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