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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: pit · mark · mouse · track · cabinet · key · cue · season

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. track — a song
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. season — of the year
  11. key — the most important part
  12. cue — a hint
  13. cue — for pool
  14. key — in music
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. mark — a trace
  17. season — in sport
  18. pit — a hole
  19. track — a path
  20. pit — in a race
  21. cue — a signal
  22. key — for a lock
  23. track — to keep track
  24. mark — a grade

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