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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. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. ground — the earth
  4. march — the month
  5. march — the month
  6. bore — to drill
  7. game — a match
  8. bore — to tire
  9. march — music
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. vault — a safe
  12. pitch — completely
  13. game — wild animals
  14. ground — crushed
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. ground — a position
  21. snap — to click
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. hide — to keep secret

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