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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: cue · charge · date · mark · season · net · pass · spell

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. season — of the year
  3. pass — a permit
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. cue — for pool
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. mark — a grade
  8. mark — a trace
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. spell — a short time
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. net — for catching
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. spell — letters
  15. cue — a signal
  16. charge — in control
  17. net — in sport
  18. charge — electricity
  19. charge — a price
  20. season — in sport
  21. spell — magic
  22. net — after costs
  23. date — the fruit
  24. cue — a hint

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