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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. vault — a safe
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. band — a ring
  6. can — a tin
  7. root — of a plant
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. band — a music group
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. lean — to bend
  12. toast — bread
  13. ball — a great time
  14. can — a tin
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. can — to be able to
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. ball — a dance
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. root — the cause
  23. root — of a word
  24. lean — thin

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