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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. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. saw — the tool
  4. mate — a partner
  5. mate — a friend
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. vault — a safe
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. mate — to breed
  14. pound — a weight
  15. rush — hurry
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. stand — to bear
  22. saw — the tool
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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