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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. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. pit — in a race
  3. squash — to crush
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. capital — a city
  7. squash — the sport
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. mate — a friend
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. mate — to breed
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. pit — a hole
  17. mate — a partner
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. capital — a big letter
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. squash — the vegetable

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