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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 120 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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. cap — a lid
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. object — a thing
  8. ball — a great time
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. cap — of ice
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. press — newspapers
  15. ball — a dance
  16. object — an aim
  17. object — to protest
  18. press — to push
  19. cap — a hat
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. press — a publisher
  23. fine — all right
  24. fine — high quality

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