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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: cabinet · rash · last · vault · stand · mate · key · hide

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. stand — to bear
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. rash — hasty
  6. mate — to breed
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. mate — a partner
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. key — in music
  13. vault — a safe
  14. rash — a series
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. last — final
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. key — the most important part
  19. last — to go on
  20. mate — a friend
  21. last — finally
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. key — for a lock

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