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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. rash — hasty
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. vault — a safe
  10. suit — in cards
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. rash — a series
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. suit — to fit
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. bulb — for light
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. suit — clothes
  20. squash — to crush
  21. bulb — for light
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. squash — the sport
  24. nail — for a hammer

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