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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. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. can — a tin
  6. firm — decided
  7. vault — a safe
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. firm — a company
  10. pop — soda
  11. spring — the season
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. can — a tin
  14. firm — steady
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. spring — a coil
  17. pop — to visit
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. can — to be able to
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. pop — music

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