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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: jam · leaves · cabinet · pit · ground · staff · pass · saw

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. ground — crushed
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. staff — employees
  5. pit — in a race
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. ground — the earth
  10. pit — a hole
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. pass — a permit
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. saw — the tool
  21. staff — a stick
  22. ground — a position
  23. staff — employees
  24. cabinet — ministers

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