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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. vault — a safe
  4. file — a tool
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. bulb — for light
  9. key — for a lock
  10. file — a document
  11. key — the most important part
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. bulb — for light
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. bear — the animal
  17. season — in sport
  18. key — in music
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. file — a line of people
  24. season — of the year

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