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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 ________________ took off on time.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. stock — goods
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. charge — in control
  8. pass — a permit
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. stock — shares
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. sharp — clever
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. charge — electricity
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. charge — a price
  23. plane — a tool
  24. calf — of the leg

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