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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 116 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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. scale — size or range
  5. march — the month
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. march — the month
  9. craft — a skill
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. scale — in music
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. craft — boats
  15. march — music
  16. sharp — clever
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. stand — to bear

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