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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: firm · lash · jam · wave · track · ball · hand · cue

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. ball — a dance
  3. ball — a great time
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. track — a song
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. firm — steady
  10. track — a path
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. firm — a company
  13. firm — decided
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. cue — a hint
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. track — to keep track
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. hand — help
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. hand — in cards
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. cue — a signal

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