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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 ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. fork — in a road
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. mine — for digging
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. toast — bread
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. land — to come down
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. stem — to come from
  16. stand — to bear
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. land — a country
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. vault — a safe
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. land — ground

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