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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.

Make a worksheet

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 took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. chair — a leader
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. bound — tied together
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. current — electric
  9. bound — obliged
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. current — of water
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. rush — hurry
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. mine — for digging
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. bound — certain
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. current — happening now

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