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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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  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. vault — in gymnastics
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. capital — a big letter
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. capital — money
  11. toast — bread
  12. mine — for digging
  13. capital — a city
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. lie — to recline
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. deal — to handle
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  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