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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. scale — in music
  5. season — in sport
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. bound — tied together
  8. saw — the tool
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. bound — certain
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. scale — size or range
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. season — of the year
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. bear — the animal
  20. bear — the animal
  21. saw — the tool
  22. snap — to click
  23. bound — obliged
  24. vault — a safe

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