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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. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. kick — in football
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. march — the month
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. scale — size or range
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. scale — in music
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. march — the month
  19. kick — with a leg
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. safe — out of danger

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