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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: mark · stand · cabinet · spring · scale · date · ball · suit

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. stand — to bear
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. suit — to fit
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mark — a grade
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. ball — a great time
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. spring — of water
  13. scale — size or range
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. ball — a dance
  16. spring — a coil
  17. scale — in music
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. suit — in cards
  21. spring — the season
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. suit — clothes

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