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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. When are we going to ________________?
  6. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. land — a country
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. land — to come down
  6. swing — music
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. vault — a safe
  9. mate — a partner
  10. squash — to crush
  11. swing — in golf
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. land — ground
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. squash — the sport
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. swing — to play on
  20. mate — to breed
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. mate — a friend
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. rush — hurry

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