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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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. firm — a company
  4. charge — a price
  5. plane — a tool
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. pitch — completely
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. firm — decided
  14. wound — an injury
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. wound — an injury
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. charge — electricity
  20. tube — the underground
  21. firm — steady
  22. toast — bread
  23. tube — a container
  24. charge — in control

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