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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: chair · land · pass · cabinet · board · cue · fine · bowl

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. fine — all right
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. board — to get on
  9. land — a country
  10. cue — a signal
  11. fine — high quality
  12. chair — a leader
  13. chair — to sit on
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. cue — for pool
  16. land — ground
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. cue — a hint
  20. land — to come down
  21. board — a committee
  22. pass — a permit
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. bowl — to roll

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