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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. fine — high quality
  4. pass — a permit
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. staff — employees
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. object — a thing
  10. fine — all right
  11. track — a song
  12. object — to protest
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. object — an aim
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. track — a path
  20. staff — a stick
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. track — to keep track
  24. staff — employees

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