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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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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: mug · bulb · cabinet · bat · jam · season · plane · rash

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. plane — a tool
  3. mug — to rob
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. bat — for baseball
  8. rash — hasty
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. season — of the year
  11. bulb — for light
  12. mug — a cup
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. season — in sport
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. bulb — for light
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. mug — a face
  20. bat — in an idiom
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. bat — the animal

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