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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. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. court — of law
  3. staff — employees
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. shower — to wash
  7. shower — rain
  8. bank — of a river
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. court — of a king
  12. mark — a trace
  13. court — for sport
  14. date — the fruit
  15. mark — a grade
  16. bank — for money
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. bank — for money
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. staff — a stick
  22. staff — employees
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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