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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. The ball is in your ________________.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. season — of the year
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. rock — a stone
  5. mug — a cup
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. court — for sport
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. mug — to rob
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. cue — a hint
  13. object — to protest
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. rock — music
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. object — a thing
  18. cue — a signal
  19. court — of law
  20. mug — a face
  21. object — an aim
  22. cue — for pool
  23. court — of a king
  24. season — in sport

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