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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: prune · pass · cue · rash · cabinet · rock · last · foot

  1. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. last — final
  2. rock — a stone
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. cue — a hint
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. pass — a permit
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. last — finally
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. rash — hasty
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. last — to go on
  13. rock — music
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cue — for pool
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. foot — a measure
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. rash — a series
  20. cue — a signal
  21. prune — to trim
  22. prune — to trim
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. pass — to succeed

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