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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. firm — decided
  3. charge — a price
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. charge — in control
  6. net — for catching
  7. firm — steady
  8. race — a contest
  9. stem — to come from
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. race — the arms race
  12. firm — a company
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. charge — electricity
  17. net — in sport
  18. net — after costs
  19. rush — hurry
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. race — humankind

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