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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. can — a tin
  3. cue — a hint
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. vault — a safe
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. can — a tin
  9. net — after costs
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. pitch — completely
  15. can — to be able to
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. rash — hasty
  18. net — for catching
  19. net — in sport
  20. cue — a signal
  21. cue — for pool
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. rash — a series
  24. rush — hurry

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