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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. cap — a hat
  5. suit — clothes
  6. suit — to fit
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. cap — a lid
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. suit — in cards
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. chip — for betting
  22. chip — to eat
  23. cap — of ice
  24. cabinet — ministers

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