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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 116 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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. drill — a practice
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. file — a document
  6. current — of water
  7. file — a line of people
  8. vault — a safe
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. file — a tool
  12. current — happening now
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. lie — to recline
  19. drill — the tool
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. cue — for pool
  22. current — electric
  23. cue — a hint
  24. cue — a signal

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