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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. bass — the fish
  3. row — a line
  4. pit — in a race
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. row — to paddle
  9. charge — in control
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. mark — a trace
  13. pit — a hole
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. plane — a tool
  19. charge — a price
  20. charge — electricity
  21. pass — a permit
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. mark — a grade
  24. bass — low music

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