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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
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: jam · court · patient · cabinet · object · key · suit · straw

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. The ball is in your ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. key — for a lock
  3. key — in music
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. object — an aim
  6. court — for sport
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. suit — clothes
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. court — of law
  11. straw — a straw man
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. key — the most important part
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. court — of a king
  16. suit — in cards
  17. object — a thing
  18. suit — to fit
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. straw — to clutch at straws
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. object — to protest

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