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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 116 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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. board — a committee
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. row — to paddle
  12. plane — a tool
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. board — to get on
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. pass — a permit
  20. row — a line
  21. rush — hurry
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. cabinet — ministers

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