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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.

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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: ground · cap · cabinet · rule · nail · game · rock · suit

  1. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — crushed
  2. ground — a position
  3. cap — of ice
  4. rock — a stone
  5. ground — the earth
  6. game — a match
  7. rule — government
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. suit — in cards
  11. cap — a lid
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. suit — clothes
  16. suit — to fit
  17. rule — to rule out
  18. rock — music
  19. rule — a law
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. cap — a hat
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. game — wild animals
  24. nail — on a finger

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