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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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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: racket · cue · suit · date · mark · trunk · vault · band

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. mark — a trace
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. cue — for pool
  5. suit — to fit
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. cue — a signal
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. date — the fruit
  11. vault — a safe
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. mark — a grade
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. suit — clothes
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. band — a music group
  20. cue — a hint
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. band — a ring
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. suit — in cards

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