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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: mine · can · cabinet · staff · arm · mark · mate · key

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. key — in music
  3. mine — for digging
  4. staff — a stick
  5. can — to be able to
  6. mate — a partner
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. staff — employees
  9. can — a tin
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. mate — to breed
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. mark — a grade
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. key — the most important part
  19. key — for a lock
  20. can — a tin
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. mate — a friend
  24. staff — employees

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