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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: mark · cabinet · bay · tube · game · key · mug · bear

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. key — in music
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. game — wild animals
  6. mug — a face
  7. tube — the underground
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. bear — the animal
  10. bear — the animal
  11. game — a match
  12. mug — a cup
  13. mark — a grade
  14. mark — a trace
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. mug — to rob
  21. key — for a lock
  22. key — the most important part
  23. tube — a container
  24. mark — to pay attention

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