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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: rest · firm · rash · cabinet · content · can · season · squash

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. squash — to crush
  3. rest — what's left
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. season — of the year
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. season — in sport
  9. squash — the sport
  10. can — a tin
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. firm — steady
  14. can — a tin
  15. rest — what's left
  16. rest — a break
  17. firm — decided
  18. content — the amount
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. firm — a company
  21. content — happy
  22. rash — a series
  23. can — to be able to
  24. rash — hasty

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