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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.

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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: game · stand · jam · bore · cabinet · wave · court · mug

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. mug — a cup
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. bore — to tire
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. court — of a king
  12. mug — a face
  13. court — for sport
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. mug — to rob
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. game — wild animals
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. stand — to bear
  20. court — of law
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. bore — to drill
  23. game — a match
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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