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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: file · lash · pitch · cap · cabinet · leaves · rush · drill

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. file — a tool
  8. cap — a lid
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. file — a line of people
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. file — a document
  14. drill — the tool
  15. pitch — completely
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. drill — a practice
  18. rush — hurry
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. cap — of ice
  24. cap — a hat

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