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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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. ball — a dance
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. vault — a safe
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. rock — a stone
  13. squash — the sport
  14. stand — to bear
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. ball — a great time
  17. toast — bread
  18. rock — music
  19. squash — to crush
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. perch — the fish
  24. rock — to move gently

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