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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 116 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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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. rest — what's left
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. track — a song
  8. current — electric
  9. rest — what's left
  10. bulb — for light
  11. current — of water
  12. current — happening now
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. vault — a safe
  15. rest — a break
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. track — a path
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. bulb — for light
  20. track — to keep track
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. wound — an injury
  23. wound — an injury
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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