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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 120 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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. track — to keep track
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. pit — in a race
  5. track — a path
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. track — a song
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. content — happy
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. scale — in music
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. content — the amount
  20. scale — size or range
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. pass — a permit
  23. pit — a hole
  24. pass — to spend time

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