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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. chip — to eat
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. mate — to breed
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. foot — a measure
  12. vault — a safe
  13. mine — for digging
  14. bank — for money
  15. bank — of a river
  16. mate — a friend
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. bank — for money
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. mate — a partner
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. chip — for betting
  24. plane — a 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