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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: pass · racket · mate · cue · trunk · hand · mark · content

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. cue — for pool
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. hand — help
  6. mark — a trace
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. content — the amount
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. mate — to breed
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. cue — a hint
  15. mate — a friend
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. content — happy
  18. mark — a grade
  19. cue — a signal
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. hand — in cards
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. mate — a partner

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