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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. suit — in cards
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. perch — the fish
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. track — to keep track
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. spell — a short time
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. suit — to fit
  11. spell — magic
  12. track — a song
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. track — a path
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. spell — letters
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. vault — a safe
  20. suit — clothes
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. tube — the underground
  23. deal — to handle
  24. tube — a container

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