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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: cabinet · rest · mark · board · cue · craft · season · chip

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. rest — what's left
  5. cue — for pool
  6. chip — to eat
  7. season — in sport
  8. rest — what's left
  9. cue — a signal
  10. mark — a trace
  11. rest — a break
  12. craft — boats
  13. cue — a hint
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. board — a committee
  16. mark — a grade
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. season — of the year
  20. board — to get on
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. chip — for betting
  24. craft — a skill

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