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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: cabinet · foot · track · can · bore · cue · row · prune

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. can — a tin
  4. cue — a signal
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. bore — to drill
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. prune — to trim
  9. can — a tin
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. track — to keep track
  14. track — a path
  15. foot — a measure
  16. prune — to trim
  17. row — to paddle
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. can — to be able to
  20. bore — to tire
  21. track — a song
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. cue — a hint
  24. row — a line

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