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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.

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: fork · can · cap · mouse · cabinet · bulb · key · chair

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. cap — of ice
  4. fork — in a road
  5. cap — a lid
  6. key — for a lock
  7. chair — a leader
  8. bulb — for light
  9. key — in music
  10. can — a tin
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. cap — a hat
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bulb — for light
  17. key — the most important part
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. can — a tin
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. fork — to eat with

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