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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. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. toast — bread
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. rest — what's left
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. suit — to fit
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. hand — in cards
  11. object — an aim
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. suit — clothes
  15. rest — what's left
  16. hand — help
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. object — to protest
  20. object — a thing
  21. rest — a break
  22. suit — in cards
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. deal — to handle

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