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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. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. current — electric
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. net — in sport
  8. stock — shares
  9. rock — music
  10. vault — a safe
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. net — after costs
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bulb — for light
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. stock — goods
  19. craft — boats
  20. current — of water
  21. rock — a stone
  22. net — for catching
  23. current — happening now
  24. craft — a skill

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