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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. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. pop — to visit
  5. court — of a king
  6. pop — soda
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. cue — a signal
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. cue — for pool
  13. pit — in a race
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. pit — a hole
  19. court — of law
  20. cue — a hint
  21. court — for sport
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. pop — music
  24. fan — a supporter

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