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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 120 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. He is an ace ________________.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. straw — a straw man
  11. rock — a stone
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. rock — music
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. mark — a grade
  19. straw — dry grass
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. mark — a trace
  22. straw — to clutch at straws
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. pitcher — a jug

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