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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: mouse · board · drill · capital · cabinet · date · mug · deal

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. deal — to handle
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. board — a committee
  6. drill — a practice
  7. date — the fruit
  8. capital — a city
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. capital — money
  11. mug — to rob
  12. drill — the tool
  13. board — to get on
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. capital — a big letter
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. mug — a cup
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. mug — a face
  24. drill — army training

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