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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. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. march — the month
  4. wound — an injury
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. saw — the tool
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. can — a tin
  11. march — the month
  12. saw — the tool
  13. march — music
  14. wound — an injury
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. can — to be able to
  21. lie — to recline
  22. can — a tin
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. vault — a safe

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