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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
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: mug · cue · bay · cabinet · cell · spring · key · fan

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. He was locked up in a ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. mug — a cup
  4. cell — in biology
  5. mug — a face
  6. cue — for pool
  7. spring — the season
  8. spring — a coil
  9. cell — a phone
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. key — for a lock
  12. key — in music
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. mug — to rob
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. cell — in a prison
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. spring — of water
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. cue — a signal
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. key — the most important part
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. cue — a hint

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