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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.

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: sharp · racket · cabinet · pit · temple · key · ball · board

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. key — the most important part
  4. key — for a lock
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. key — in music
  10. ball — a great time
  11. ball — a dance
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. sharp — clever
  16. pit — a hole
  17. board — a committee
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. pit — in a race
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. board — to get on

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