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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: rash · cabinet · trunk · fine · can · snap · pit · deal

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. can — a tin
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. can — to be able to
  7. pit — in a race
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. snap — to click
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. deal — to handle
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. rash — a series
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. rash — hasty
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. fine — high quality
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. can — a tin
  23. fine — all right
  24. pit — a hole

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