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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 bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. roll — a cake
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. saw — the tool
  10. craft — boats
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. key — for a lock
  13. roll — a list
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. saw — the tool
  17. key — the most important part
  18. vault — a safe
  19. craft — a skill
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. key — in music

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