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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.

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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: cabinet · court · row · cue · kick · bulb · fine · can

  1. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  2. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — a thrill
  2. kick — with a leg
  3. row — to paddle
  4. can — a tin
  5. bulb — for light
  6. court — of a king
  7. fine — high quality
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. kick — in football
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. court — of law
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cue — a hint
  15. fine — all right
  16. court — for sport
  17. cue — a signal
  18. bulb — for light
  19. can — a tin
  20. cue — for pool
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. can — to be able to
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. row — a line

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