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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  6. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. staff — employees
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. bat — in an idiom
  6. bat — for baseball
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. bound — obliged
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. bound — tied together
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bound — certain
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. staff — employees
  21. bat — the animal
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. staff — a stick

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