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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. mark — a trace
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. scale — size or range
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. saw — the tool
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. scale — in music
  10. bank — for money
  11. mark — a grade
  12. pit — in a race
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. bulb — for light
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. pit — a hole
  17. bulb — for light
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bank — of a river
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. bank — for money
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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