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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. can — to be able to
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. can — a tin
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. track — a path
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. deal — to handle
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. track — to keep track
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. track — a song
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. can — a tin
  20. dip — to sink
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. date — the fruit
  23. pitch — completely
  24. deal — an agreement

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