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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.

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: pit · chest · row · tube · lash · fine · cabinet · hand

  1. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  8. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — a box
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. row — to paddle
  5. row — a line
  6. pit — in a race
  7. chest — of your body
  8. chest — of your body
  9. tube — a container
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. pit — a hole
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. hand — help
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. hand — in cards
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. tube — the underground
  23. fine — all right
  24. fine — high quality

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