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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  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. vault — in gymnastics
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. stock — shares
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. stock — goods
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. foot — a measure
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. rush — hurry
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. bark — to shout
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  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