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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 116 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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. season — in sport
  4. ground — a position
  5. mug — a face
  6. vault — a safe
  7. season — of the year
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. ground — crushed
  11. rock — a stone
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. mug — to rob
  15. key — the most important part
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. ground — the earth
  18. key — in music
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. mug — a cup
  21. rock — music
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. stand — to bear

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