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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. mark — a trace
  3. pop — soda
  4. object — a thing
  5. face — to confront
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. pop — to visit
  8. court — of a king
  9. court — of law
  10. can — a tin
  11. pop — music
  12. mark — a grade
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. face — part of the head
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. court — for sport
  17. can — to be able to
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. can — a tin
  22. face — to point toward
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. object — to protest

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