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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.

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: cabinet · season · rock · vault · can · plane · mouse · nail

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. can — a tin
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. season — in sport
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. can — to be able to
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. can — a tin
  11. rock — a stone
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. rock — music
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. vault — a safe
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. plane — a tool
  24. season — of the year

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