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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. season — in sport
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. deal — to handle
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. season — of the year
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. face — part of the head
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. race — humankind
  15. object — to protest
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bulb — for light
  19. race — the arms race
  20. face — to confront
  21. face — to point toward
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. object — a thing
  24. race — a contest

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