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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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. saw — the tool
  4. present — there
  5. cue — a hint
  6. cue — a signal
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. tube — the underground
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. present — a gift
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. vault — a safe
  15. cue — for pool
  16. saw — the tool
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. mark — a grade
  19. present — the time now
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. mark — a trace

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