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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  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. can — a tin
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. staff — a stick
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. cue — for pool
  8. stock — shares
  9. stock — goods
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. can — to be able to
  13. wound — an injury
  14. cue — a hint
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. staff — employees
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. wound — an injury
  19. can — a tin
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. cue — a signal
  22. staff — employees
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  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