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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: nail · staff · ball · cell · cabinet · pit · bound · cue

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. cue — a signal
  3. staff — a stick
  4. pit — in a race
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. cell — in biology
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. cue — for pool
  13. staff — employees
  14. cue — a hint
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. ball — a dance
  18. bound — obliged
  19. cell — a phone
  20. ball — a great time
  21. staff — employees
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bound — certain
  24. pit — a hole

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