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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. ground — a position
  4. vault — a safe
  5. cap — of ice
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. deal — to handle
  8. cap — a lid
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. cap — a hat
  11. saw — the tool
  12. bulb — for light
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. bulb — for light
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. ground — crushed
  19. ground — the earth
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. saw — the tool
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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