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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  22. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. wind — moving air
  4. vault — a safe
  5. key — in music
  6. net — after costs
  7. mark — a grade
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. swing — music
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. swing — to play on
  12. key — for a lock
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. net — in sport
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. mark — a trace
  18. swing — in golf
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. wind — moving air
  22. wind — to turn a key
  23. key — the most important part
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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