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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
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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: nail · toast · trunk · suit · arm · key · cabinet · shower

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. suit — clothes
  6. suit — in cards
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. shower — to wash
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. suit — to fit
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. toast — bread
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. shower — rain
  19. key — for a lock
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. key — the most important part
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. key — in music

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