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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.

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: cabinet · suit · pound · degree · charge · season · fork · key

  1. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. suit — in cards
  5. charge — in control
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. suit — clothes
  8. season — in sport
  9. degree — from a university
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. key — for a lock
  12. season — of the year
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. pound — a weight
  15. charge — electricity
  16. degree — an amount
  17. fork — in a road
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. key — the most important part
  20. suit — to fit
  21. charge — a price
  22. key — in music
  23. degree — temperature
  24. fork — a garden tool

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