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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 stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. vault — in gymnastics
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. stand — to bear
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. mark — a grade
  9. bass — low music
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. mark — a trace
  15. roll — a list
  16. vault — a safe
  17. field — farmland
  18. roll — a cake
  19. field — a subject
  20. bass — the fish
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. stand — on your feet

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