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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. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. ground — crushed
  4. press — to push
  5. mate — a friend
  6. kid — to tease
  7. ground — the earth
  8. pop — soda
  9. key — in music
  10. press — newspapers
  11. pop — to visit
  12. key — the most important part
  13. mate — to breed
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. pop — music
  16. mate — a partner
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. kid — child
  19. key — for a lock
  20. scale — in music
  21. vault — a safe
  22. scale — size or range
  23. press — a publisher
  24. ground — a position

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