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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. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. squash — the sport
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. fine — high quality
  5. current — happening now
  6. ball — a dance
  7. ball — a great time
  8. mug — a cup
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. current — of water
  16. mug — to rob
  17. squash — to crush
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. fine — all right
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. mug — a face
  22. vault — a safe
  23. tube — the underground
  24. current — electric

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