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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.

Make a worksheet

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: chip · cabinet · key · rock · hand · press · pit · last

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. chip — to eat
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. key — the most important part
  5. hand — help
  6. last — to go on
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. last — finally
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. key — for a lock
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. last — final
  14. press — to push
  15. hand — in cards
  16. pit — in a race
  17. press — a publisher
  18. pit — a hole
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. key — in music
  22. press — newspapers
  23. chip — for betting
  24. rock — music

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