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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. bat — for baseball
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bat — in an idiom
  5. spell — a short time
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. bass — the fish
  8. bound — certain
  9. bass — low music
  10. spell — letters
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. bound — obliged
  13. spell — magic
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. bat — the animal
  17. plane — a tool
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. vault — a safe
  20. bound — tied together
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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