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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. cue — a hint
  5. cue — a signal
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. squash — the sport
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. vault — a safe
  13. mine — for digging
  14. stand — to bear
  15. squash — to crush
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. cue — for pool
  22. sharp — clever
  23. pass — a permit
  24. stand — for spectators

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