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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. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. land — a country
  3. season — of the year
  4. can — a tin
  5. board — a committee
  6. can — a tin
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. spring — a coil
  10. land — to come down
  11. board — to get on
  12. vault — a safe
  13. land — ground
  14. spring — of water
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. toast — bread
  18. season — in sport
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. spring — the season
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. can — to be able to
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. pass — a permit

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