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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. pass — a permit
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. cap — a hat
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. wind — to turn a key
  7. can — a tin
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. can — a tin
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. cap — of ice
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. mug — to rob
  16. vault — a safe
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. wind — moving air
  19. cap — a lid
  20. mine — for digging
  21. can — to be able to
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mug — a face
  24. wind — moving air

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