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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: cabinet · racket · root · jam · wave · pass · calf · bound

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. root — of a word
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. root — the cause
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. bound — obliged
  15. bound — certain
  16. pass — a permit
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bound — tied together
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. root — of a plant
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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