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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: mark · lash · cabinet · mine · scale · fall · suit · leaves

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. fall — the season
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. fall — to drop
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. fall — to drop
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. suit — in cards
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. mark — a trace
  16. suit — clothes
  17. mine — for digging
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. suit — to fit
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. scale — in music
  23. scale — size or range
  24. mine — belonging to me

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