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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 120 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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. fine — all right
  4. fall — to drop
  5. fall — the season
  6. net — for catching
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. net — in sport
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. season — in sport
  11. season — of the year
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. branch — a division
  14. fall — to drop
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. net — after costs
  18. fine — high quality
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — music
  21. vault — a safe
  22. content — happy
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. content — the amount

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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