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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: wake · mug · ground · pit · lash · season · cabinet · pass

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. ground — crushed
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. season — in sport
  5. ground — the earth
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. mug — a face
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. season — of the year
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. mug — to rob
  15. pass — a permit
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. wake — a trail
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. ground — a position
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. pit — a hole
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. mug — a cup

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