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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 120 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
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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: cell · rock · mine · cabinet · board · pass · pitcher · key

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. He was locked up in a ________________.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. mine — for digging
  4. board — to get on
  5. pass — a permit
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. cell — in biology
  10. key — in music
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. key — for a lock
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. key — the most important part
  16. rock — music
  17. cell — in a prison
  18. cell — a phone
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. pitcher — a jug

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