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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.

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: cabinet · stand · cell · nail · lie · pit · can · rash

  1. He was locked up in a ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in a prison
  2. can — a tin
  3. rash — a series
  4. pit — in a race
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. cell — in biology
  7. stand — to bear
  8. lie — to recline
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. can — to be able to
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. rash — hasty
  14. cell — a phone
  15. pit — a hole
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. can — a tin
  24. nail — on a finger

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