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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · bound · mug · plane · temple · key · chip · prune

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. bound — tied together
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. prune — to trim
  9. bound — certain
  10. prune — to trim
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. plane — a tool
  13. key — for a lock
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. mug — to rob
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. key — in music
  19. mug — a face
  20. bound — obliged
  21. chip — for betting
  22. chip — to eat
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. key — the most important part

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