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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: rock · cell · pit · track · mate · rush · cabinet · land

  1. He was locked up in a ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in a prison
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. pit — a hole
  5. land — a country
  6. track — a song
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. rock — a stone
  10. land — to come down
  11. mate — to breed
  12. land — ground
  13. track — a path
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. mate — a friend
  16. rush — hurry
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. rock — music
  19. track — to keep track
  20. mate — a partner
  21. pit — in a race
  22. cell — in biology
  23. cell — a phone
  24. rush — to hurry

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