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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 office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. snap — to click
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. season — in sport
  7. date — the fruit
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. staff — employees
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. season — of the year
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. board — a committee
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. board — to get on
  19. staff — a stick
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. date — on the calendar

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