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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  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. pop — music
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. track — a song
  4. rest — what's left
  5. mate — a partner
  6. track — to keep track
  7. saw — the tool
  8. rest — what's left
  9. pop — to visit
  10. pop — soda
  11. vault — a safe
  12. mate — a friend
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. track — a path
  15. saw — the tool
  16. rest — a break
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. roll — a list
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. roll — a cake
  22. mate — to breed
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  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