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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: cabinet · rock · fan · bulb · cue · can · field · track

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. can — to be able to
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. bulb — for light
  7. track — a song
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. can — a tin
  10. track — to keep track
  11. bulb — for light
  12. can — a tin
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. field — a subject
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. field — for sport
  19. track — a path
  20. rock — a stone
  21. cue — a signal
  22. cue — a hint
  23. rock — music
  24. field — farmland

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