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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: date · season · cue · temple · pass · fine · content · can

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. cue — a signal
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. pass — a permit
  5. date — the fruit
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. content — the amount
  9. cue — for pool
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. can — to be able to
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. fine — high quality
  17. can — a tin
  18. season — of the year
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. cue — a hint
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. season — in sport
  23. content — happy
  24. fine — all right

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