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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  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. season — in sport
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. fine — all right
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. mark — a grade
  6. net — in sport
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. stand — to bear
  12. fine — high quality
  13. net — after costs
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. season — of the year
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. vault — a safe
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. net — for catching
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. mark — a trace
  23. bowl — a dish
  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