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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.

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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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. field — a subject
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. saw — the tool
  9. saw — the tool
  10. lie — to recline
  11. can — to be able to
  12. bulb — for light
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. chip — to eat
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. can — a tin
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. can — a tin
  21. field — farmland
  22. chip — for betting
  23. field — for sport
  24. bulb — for light

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