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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. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. bound — tied together
  3. ground — a position
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. vault — a safe
  6. bound — certain
  7. pass — a permit
  8. bass — low music
  9. ground — the earth
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. ground — crushed
  12. bound — obliged
  13. scale — in music
  14. chip — to eat
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. perch — the fish
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. scale — size or range
  21. chip — for betting
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. bass — the fish
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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