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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 · lash · mine · toast · bay · pit · mate · charge

  1. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. charge — a price
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. mate — to breed
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. toast — bread
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. pit — in a race
  18. mate — a partner
  19. charge — in control
  20. mate — a friend
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. pit — a hole
  23. charge — electricity
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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