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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: fine · mate · stand · plane · mark · rash · pop · cue

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. cue — for pool
  4. mark — a trace
  5. fine — all right
  6. mate — a partner
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. pop — soda
  9. pop — music
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. pop — to visit
  12. fine — high quality
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. cue — a signal
  15. stand — to bear
  16. rash — hasty
  17. plane — a tool
  18. mate — a friend
  19. rash — a series
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. mate — to breed
  22. cue — a hint
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. stand — for spectators

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