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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: fine · cabinet · rash · mark · jam · mate · capital · coach

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. capital — money
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. fine — high quality
  6. fine — all right
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. capital — a big letter
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. mark — a trace
  13. mate — a friend
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. rash — a series
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. rash — hasty
  20. mate — a partner
  21. mark — a grade
  22. capital — a city
  23. mate — to breed
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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