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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.

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: tube · pit · chip · can · wound · fine · cabinet · key

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. chip — to eat
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. key — in music
  7. key — for a lock
  8. fine — high quality
  9. wound — an injury
  10. tube — a container
  11. chip — for betting
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. key — the most important part
  15. can — to be able to
  16. wound — an injury
  17. pit — in a race
  18. pit — a hole
  19. tube — the underground
  20. can — a tin
  21. fine — all right
  22. can — a tin
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. tube — in a tire

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