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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 120 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. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — a phone
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. staff — a stick
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. stock — shares
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. cell — in biology
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. stock — goods
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. vault — a safe
  17. staff — employees
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. staff — employees
  24. trunk — of a car

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