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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 116 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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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 · season · rock · racket · rest · fork · net · nail

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. rest — a break
  3. rest — what's left
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. fork — in a road
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. season — in sport
  8. rock — music
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. net — after costs
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. net — for catching
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. net — in sport
  16. rest — what's left
  17. season — of the year
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. rock — a stone
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. rock — to move gently

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