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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 · key · jam · cue · net · chip · ball · mouse

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. net — for catching
  5. net — after costs
  6. cue — a signal
  7. key — the most important part
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. ball — a dance
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. key — in music
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. ball — a great time
  15. cue — for pool
  16. key — for a lock
  17. chip — for betting
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. net — in sport
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. cue — a hint

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