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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. squash — the sport
  5. squash — to crush
  6. fine — all right
  7. vault — a safe
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. fine — high quality
  11. last — final
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. last — to go on
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. last — finally
  18. rush — hurry
  19. scale — size or range
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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