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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.

Make a worksheet

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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. board — a committee
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. board — to get on
  8. fine — high quality
  9. net — for catching
  10. net — in sport
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. vault — a safe
  13. fine — all right
  14. net — after costs
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. kick — a thrill

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