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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.

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: nail · ground · safe · plane · trunk · kick · cabinet · key

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. ground — a position
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. ground — the earth
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. kick — a thrill
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. ground — crushed
  15. key — in music
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. key — for a lock
  18. kick — in football
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. plane — a tool
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. key — the most important part

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