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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: foot · leaves · pit · bulb · cabinet · row · object · pass

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. row — to paddle
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. row — a line
  8. object — a thing
  9. pit — in a race
  10. pass — a permit
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. object — to protest
  13. object — an aim
  14. pit — a hole
  15. foot — a measure
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. bulb — for light
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bulb — for light
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. foot — part of the body

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