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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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. cap — a hat
  3. face — part of the head
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. face — to point toward
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. pit — in a race
  10. spell — a short time
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. cap — a lid
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. face — to confront
  17. cap — of ice
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. spell — letters
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. pit — a hole
  24. spell — magic

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