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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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. lean — to bend
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. roll — a cake
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. roll — a list
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. vault — a safe
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. fine — all right
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. sharp — clever
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. fine — high quality
  22. lean — thin
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. toast — bread

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