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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: mine · cabinet · board · dip · nail · racket · tube · mark

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. mine — for digging
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. tube — the underground
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. dip — to sink
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. board — a committee
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. mark — a grade
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. mark — a trace
  22. tube — a container
  23. board — to get on
  24. mark — to pay attention

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