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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: suit · jam · cabinet · key · hand · game · saw · deal

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. hand — in cards
  6. suit — to fit
  7. game — wild animals
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. key — the most important part
  10. hand — help
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. suit — in cards
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. deal — to handle
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. saw — the tool
  18. game — a match
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. suit — clothes
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. saw — the tool
  23. key — for a lock
  24. jam — a tight spot

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