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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 120 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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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: deal · pass · chest · season · fork · cabinet · bulb · ruler

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. bulb — for light
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. season — of the year
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. pass — a permit
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. chest — of your body
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. fork — in a road
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. chest — of your body
  16. deal — to handle
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. chest — a box
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. bulb — for light
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. fork — to eat with

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