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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 is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. pop — to visit
  4. lean — to bend
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. rock — a stone
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. pop — soda
  9. root — of a word
  10. pop — music
  11. stand — to bear
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. root — the cause
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. root — of a plant
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. vault — a safe
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. rock — music
  24. saw — the tool

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