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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: ball · lash · cue · safe · nail · saw · track · fine

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  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. track — a song
  2. cue — a signal
  3. cue — for pool
  4. fine — high quality
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. track — a path
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. saw — the tool
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. ball — a dance
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. track — to keep track
  17. fine — all right
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. ball — a great time
  21. saw — the tool
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. nail — on a finger
  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