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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. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. rock — music
  5. roll — a list
  6. vault — a safe
  7. charge — in control
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. rock — a stone
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. roll — a cake
  13. charge — electricity
  14. wax — to grow
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. foot — a measure
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. charge — a price
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. mouse — the animal

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