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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 116 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.

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: net · bank · craft · cabinet · safe · key · game · press

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. key — for a lock
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. key — in music
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. game — a match
  7. craft — boats
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. net — after costs
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. net — for catching
  12. net — in sport
  13. bank — for money
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. press — newspapers
  18. key — the most important part
  19. game — wild animals
  20. press — a publisher
  21. press — to push
  22. bank — for money
  23. craft — a skill
  24. bank — of a river

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