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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. fine — high quality
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. band — a ring
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. dip — to sink
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. march — the month
  12. vault — a safe
  13. band — a music group
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. march — music
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. march — the month
  20. fine — all right
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. fine — a penalty

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