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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. roll — a cake
  3. ball — a great time
  4. ball — a dance
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. bank — for money
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. bank — for money
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. object — to protest
  12. object — a thing
  13. date — the fruit
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. roll — a list
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. vault — a safe
  21. pit — a hole
  22. object — an aim
  23. pit — in a race
  24. date — on the calendar

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