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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 ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. vault — a safe
  3. key — for a lock
  4. saw — the tool
  5. mate — a friend
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. charge — in control
  9. mate — a partner
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. key — in music
  12. stock — shares
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. saw — the tool
  15. charge — a price
  16. mate — to breed
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. charge — electricity
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. stock — goods
  24. key — the most important part

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