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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 · vault · mouse · track · game · mine · staff · rush

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. track — a path
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. staff — employees
  12. vault — a safe
  13. game — wild animals
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. game — a match
  16. staff — employees
  17. track — to keep track
  18. staff — a stick
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. mine — for digging
  21. rush — hurry
  22. track — a song
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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