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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: bay · rush · dip · jam · cabinet · perch · hand · present

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. present — there
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. dip — to sink
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. hand — help
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. hand — in cards
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. present — the time now
  18. perch — the fish
  19. present — a gift
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. rush — hurry
  24. bay — a horse colour

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