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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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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 · cue · deal · key · cap · wound · vault · cabinet

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. key — the most important part
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cue — a hint
  7. key — for a lock
  8. vault — a safe
  9. cue — for pool
  10. cap — a hat
  11. cue — a signal
  12. key — in music
  13. wound — an injury
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. cap — of ice
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. fine — all right
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. wound — an injury
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. fine — high quality
  22. cap — a lid
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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