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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: fine · temple · mug · clip · cabinet · pit · rule · pop

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  9. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. pit — in a race
  8. clip — to cut
  9. rule — a law
  10. pit — a hole
  11. mug — to rob
  12. rule — government
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. mug — a face
  15. pop — music
  16. rule — to rule out
  17. fine — all right
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. clip — a video
  20. pop — soda
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. pop — to visit
  23. clip — for paper
  24. mug — a cup

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