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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
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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: cabinet · content · staff · mug · pit · rash · current · last

  1. False peace will not ________________.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. last — to go on
  2. content — the amount
  3. mug — to rob
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. rash — a series
  6. last — finally
  7. mug — a cup
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. pit — a hole
  10. current — happening now
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. rash — hasty
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. staff — a stick
  15. content — happy
  16. staff — employees
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. staff — employees
  19. current — electric
  20. mug — a face
  21. pit — in a race
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. current — of water
  24. last — final

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