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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 116 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: rule · pass · track · cabinet · board · racket · cue · season

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. rule — government
  4. cue — a signal
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. season — of the year
  8. track — a song
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. rule — a law
  11. board — to get on
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. cue — for pool
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. cue — a hint
  19. pass — a permit
  20. track — to keep track
  21. track — a path
  22. season — in sport
  23. rule — to rule out
  24. cabinet — ministers

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