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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. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. last — final
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. roll — a list
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. roll — a cake
  9. bank — of a river
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. last — finally
  13. chip — for betting
  14. bulb — for light
  15. chip — to eat
  16. bank — for money
  17. bulb — for light
  18. vault — a safe
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. bank — for money
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. last — to go on

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