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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. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. shower — to wash
  3. firm — decided
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. saw — the tool
  7. firm — a company
  8. vault — a safe
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. shower — rain
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. firm — steady
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. saw — the tool

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