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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 120 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 · track · key · suit · ball · trunk · cue · shower

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. ball — a great time
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. cue — for pool
  5. cue — a hint
  6. suit — to fit
  7. key — in music
  8. cue — a signal
  9. track — a path
  10. ball — a dance
  11. suit — clothes
  12. shower — to wash
  13. key — for a lock
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. key — the most important part
  20. track — to keep track
  21. suit — in cards
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. shower — rain
  24. trunk — of a tree

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