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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: can · rest · game · cabinet · date · charge · net · vault

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. date — the fruit
  7. rest — what's left
  8. net — for catching
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. net — in sport
  11. game — wild animals
  12. can — to be able to
  13. net — after costs
  14. can — a tin
  15. charge — a price
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. charge — in control
  18. can — a tin
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. game — a match
  21. rest — a break
  22. rest — what's left
  23. vault — a safe
  24. charge — electricity

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