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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: roll · cue · cabinet · field · mug · bass · key · jam

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. key — for a lock
  3. key — in music
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. field — a subject
  6. roll — a list
  7. bass — the fish
  8. mug — a cup
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. mug — a face
  11. roll — a cake
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. key — the most important part
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. mug — to rob
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. cue — a signal
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cue — for pool
  20. field — for sport
  21. bass — low music
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. cue — a hint
  24. field — farmland

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