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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: pass · rest · court · nail · face · cabinet · key · trunk

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. The ball is in your ________________.
  24. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. key — in music
  3. pass — a permit
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. face — to confront
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. face — to point toward
  10. rest — a break
  11. rest — what's left
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. rest — what's left
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. key — the most important part
  18. key — for a lock
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. court — of a king
  21. face — part of the head
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. court — for sport
  24. court — of law

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