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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.

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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: tube · cabinet · net · key · ball · cue · mouse · board

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. key — for a lock
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. board — to get on
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. cue — a hint
  12. key — in music
  13. cue — a signal
  14. tube — a container
  15. key — the most important part
  16. ball — a great time
  17. net — for catching
  18. cue — for pool
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. net — after costs
  21. board — a committee
  22. net — in sport
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. ball — a dance

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