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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. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. The ball is in your ________________.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. pop — music
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. court — for sport
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. court — of law
  12. court — of a king
  13. pop — to visit
  14. stock — goods
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. stock — shares
  19. vault — a safe
  20. perch — the fish
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. mine — for digging
  24. bowl — a dish

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