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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.

Make a worksheet

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: cabinet · cue · hide · perch · object · deal · game · fan

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. perch — the fish
  8. cue — a signal
  9. object — an aim
  10. game — wild animals
  11. object — a thing
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. deal — to handle
  16. object — to protest
  17. cue — a hint
  18. cue — for pool
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. game — a match
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. hide — to keep secret

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