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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.

Make a worksheet

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: scale · key · pass · fork · net · court · trunk · cabinet

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. The ball is in your ________________.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. net — for catching
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. court — for sport
  7. scale — in music
  8. net — in sport
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. court — of law
  11. pass — a permit
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. key — for a lock
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. key — the most important part
  17. fork — in a road
  18. net — after costs
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. key — in music
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. scale — size or range
  24. court — of a king

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