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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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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: pass · cabinet · scale · lash · cold · capital · foot · key

  1. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  2. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. The water is too ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — a big letter
  2. cold — the Cold War
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. capital — a city
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. foot — a measure
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. pass — a permit
  13. key — in music
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. scale — in music
  16. scale — size or range
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. key — the most important part
  19. capital — money
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. key — for a lock
  22. cold — an illness
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. cold — not warm

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