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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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468
Word bank
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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 goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. ball — a dance
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. ball — a great time
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. cue — for pool
  12. straw — to clutch at straws
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. pit — in a race
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. pit — a hole
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. cue — a hint
  23. stand — to bear
  24. cue — a signal

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