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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. mate — a friend
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. bank — for money
  5. mark — a trace
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. pop — soda
  8. staff — employees
  9. staff — a stick
  10. mate — a partner
  11. mark — a grade
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. pop — to visit
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. bank — of a river
  18. mate — to breed
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. bank — for money
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. staff — employees
  24. cabinet — ministers

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