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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. rash — a series
  3. rash — hasty
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. spell — letters
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. spell — a short time
  12. saw — the tool
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. pop — soda
  15. roll — a list
  16. pop — music
  17. saw — the tool
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. pop — to visit
  22. roll — a cake
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. spell — magic

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