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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. pass — a permit
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. rock — a stone
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. squash — the sport
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. band — a ring
  12. rock — music
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. stem — to come from
  15. band — a music group
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. present — there
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. squash — to crush
  22. present — the time now
  23. present — a gift
  24. stem — of a plant

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