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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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rock — music
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. mine — for digging
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. firm — a company
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. firm — steady
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. firm — decided
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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