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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. He was locked up in a ________________.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. bulb — for light
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. rest — a break
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. bulb — for light
  10. cell — a phone
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. fall — to drop
  13. cell — in biology
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. fall — to drop
  16. vault — a safe
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. cell — in a prison
  20. rest — what's left
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. fall — the season
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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