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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 116 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. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  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. firm — steady
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. prune — to trim
  5. fine — high quality
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. prune — to trim
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. sharp — clever
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. pass — a permit
  14. fine — all right
  15. board — to get on
  16. firm — decided
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. vault — a safe
  19. board — a committee
  20. firm — a company
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. pass — to succeed
  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