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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: lash · rock · chip · pass · toast · season · capital · cabinet

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. chip — to eat
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. season — in sport
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. capital — a city
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. rock — music
  10. toast — bread
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. chip — for betting
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. capital — money
  15. rock — a stone
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. season — of the year
  21. pass — a permit
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. capital — a big letter

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