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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  20. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  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. vault — in gymnastics
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. saw — the tool
  10. rush — hurry
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. vault — a safe
  16. saw — the tool
  17. chip — for betting
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. chest — a box
  20. chest — of your body
  21. chip — to eat
  22. date — the fruit
  23. chest — of your body
  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