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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: safe · ruler · track · object · stand · cue · cell · prune

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. object — an aim
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. cue — a signal
  8. prune — to trim
  9. track — to keep track
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. object — to protest
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. stand — to bear
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. object — a thing
  18. cue — for pool
  19. cue — a hint
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. cell — a phone
  22. prune — to trim
  23. track — a path
  24. cell — in biology

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