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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: jam · craft · hand · cabinet · swing · key · cue · deal

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. craft — boats
  4. deal — to handle
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. cue — for pool
  8. swing — music
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. hand — in cards
  12. key — the most important part
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. cue — a hint
  15. craft — a skill
  16. cue — a signal
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. key — in music
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. swing — to play on
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. hand — help
  24. swing — in golf

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