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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 · pass · pop · pitcher · ground · safe · cue · lie

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. cue — for pool
  4. ground — crushed
  5. lie — to recline
  6. cue — a signal
  7. ground — the earth
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pop — to visit
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. pop — soda
  12. pass — a permit
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. cue — a hint
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. date — the fruit
  18. ground — a position
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. lie — an untruth

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