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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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. club — for golf
  5. court — for sport
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. club — for dancing
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. chip — to eat
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. chip — for betting
  13. club — a group
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. court — of a king
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. foot — a measure
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. court — of law
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. toast — bread

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