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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  10. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. vault — a safe
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. chest — of your body
  10. chest — a box
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. rush — hurry
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. date — the fruit
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. toast — bread
  22. chest — of your body
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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