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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: club · temple · season · pitcher · bay · fine · fall · cue

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. season — of the year
  3. fall — to drop
  4. fall — to drop
  5. fine — high quality
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. fall — the season
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. club — for dancing
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. cue — a hint
  15. club — a group
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. club — for golf
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. cue — for pool
  21. season — in sport
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. fine — all right
  24. pitcher — a jug

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