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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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  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. squash — the vegetable
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. mine — for digging
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. can — to be able to
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. stem — to come from
  14. squash — to crush
  15. land — ground
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. can — a tin
  18. land — to come down
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. can — a tin
  21. land — a country
  22. squash — the sport
  23. safe — out of danger
  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