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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. hand — help
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. pass — a permit
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. bulb — for light
  13. capital — a city
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. capital — a big letter
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bulb — for light
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. hand — in cards
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. capital — money

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