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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. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. charge — a price
  3. march — the month
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. march — music
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. charge — in control
  9. march — the month
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. current — happening now
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. current — of water
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. tube — a container
  19. charge — electricity
  20. current — electric
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. plane — a tool
  23. tube — the underground
  24. vault — a safe

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