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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. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  22. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. pass — a permit
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. chest — a box
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. pop — music
  8. bulb — for light
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. bulb — for light
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. toast — bread
  19. pop — to visit
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. chest — of your body
  22. chest — of your body
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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