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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 · vault · leaves · mate · pitcher · row · mark · fork

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. vault — a safe
  7. mate — a partner
  8. mark — a grade
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. row — a line
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. fork — in a road
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. mate — a friend
  20. mark — a trace
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. fork — a garden tool
  23. row — to paddle
  24. mate — to breed

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