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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: spell · toast · can · cabinet · fine · cell · game · cue

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  10. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. game — wild animals
  4. spell — magic
  5. cue — for pool
  6. fine — high quality
  7. fine — all right
  8. spell — a short time
  9. cell — in biology
  10. cell — a phone
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. can — a tin
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. cue — a hint
  17. toast — bread
  18. spell — letters
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. game — a match
  23. can — to be able to
  24. can — a tin

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