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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 120 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 kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. vault — a safe
  3. mate — a friend
  4. bank — for money
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. scale — size or range
  7. mate — a partner
  8. saw — the tool
  9. rest — what's left
  10. bank — for money
  11. rest — a break
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. object — to protest
  14. mate — to breed
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. object — an aim
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. object — a thing
  20. scale — in music
  21. rest — what's left
  22. saw — the tool
  23. foot — a measure
  24. bank — of a river

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