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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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. He was locked up in a ________________.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. swing — in golf
  3. rock — music
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. cell — in a prison
  7. track — a path
  8. swing — to play on
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. bank — of a river
  11. rock — a stone
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. bank — for money
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. cell — in biology
  17. swing — music
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. cell — a phone
  21. bank — for money
  22. track — a song
  23. track — to keep track
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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