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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 120 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: safe · pit · mate · cabinet · staff · rush · capital · plane

  1. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. mate — a friend
  3. pit — a hole
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. mate — to breed
  6. rush — hurry
  7. staff — employees
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. plane — a tool
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. pit — in a race
  15. capital — a big letter
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. capital — a city
  20. staff — employees
  21. staff — a stick
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. mate — a partner

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