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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. stock — goods
  4. stock — shares
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. spell — letters
  7. key — the most important part
  8. spell — a short time
  9. kid — to tease
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. spell — magic
  12. season — in sport
  13. key — in music
  14. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  15. fall — to drop
  16. season — of the year
  17. vault — a safe
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. fall — the season
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. key — for a lock
  23. kid — child
  24. fall — to drop

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