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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. season — of the year
  4. ground — a position
  5. ball — a great time
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. ground — crushed
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. prune — to trim
  12. bear — the animal
  13. ball — a dance
  14. bore — to drill
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. season — in sport
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. bore — to tire
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. vault — a safe
  22. prune — to trim
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. bear — the animal

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