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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. object — an aim
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. spring — the season
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. deal — to handle
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. pit — a hole
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. object — a thing
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. spring — of water
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. spring — a coil
  18. mark — a trace
  19. mark — a grade
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. object — to protest
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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