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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. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. race — a contest
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. pit — in a race
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. prune — to trim
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. stand — to bear
  15. vault — a safe
  16. rash — a series
  17. race — humankind
  18. rash — hasty
  19. race — the arms race
  20. toast — bread
  21. pit — a hole
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. prune — to trim

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