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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. stand — to bear
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. season — in sport
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. rest — a break
  8. rash — a series
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. ball — a dance
  11. rest — what's left
  12. can — a tin
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. can — a tin
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. can — to be able to
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. ball — a great time
  21. rest — what's left
  22. rash — hasty
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. season — of the year

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